Meet Karen Urosevich, founder of Well Placed Travel, where she helps people discover the places that bring them purpose, peace, and joy. After a 20+ year career leading global design and development projects, Karen followed her calling, and her own wanderlust, to help others explore the world in ways that transform, restore, and inspire. 

With nearly 40 countries explored and certifications in yoga and Reiki, she blends culture, wellness, and thoughtful planning into journeys that protect your time, your investment, and your sense of wonder.

In this episode of Speaking of Travel, Karen gets real about shedding old identities, navigating grief and reinvention, and how travel became a mirror for self-discovery. She shares the birth of Well Placed Travel, the challenges and rewards of helping people find their place, and the deeper truths behind what we think we want from travel versus what we truly crave. 

Whether you’re chasing restoration, adventure, or clarity, Karen’s insights will make you see travel, and yourself, in a whole new way.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Step into the world of David Belmont and you’ll find yourself somewhere between a jazz riff, a poetry line, and a road trip that definitely skipped the exit ramp. David is a lifelong musician, writer, mixed-media artist, and a certified original, the kind of counter-culture cool you don’t try to manufacture. He’s effortlessly hip, wildly curious, and just mischievous enough to make life more interesting.

On this episode of Speaking of Travel, David takes us on a joyride through a life lived off-script. From seeing America for the first time through a car window to accidentally landing in a secret Mardi Gras parade, from a double rainbow over a Scottish loch to jamming on a Trinidad beach, sharing songs with strangers in Jamaica, joining a Balinese funeral, or trading musical conversations on the Yangtze River, this is a life powered by curiosity, connection, and a refusal to stay in one lane.

The conversation is funny, soulful, and delightfully unpredictable, just like David himself. It’s about listening closely to the world, riffing with it, marching to its weird little rhythms, and trusting that the best moments usually happen when plans fall apart. This is travel as improvisation. In other words equal parts art, rebellion, and heart.

By the end, you’ll feel like you’ve wandered alongside him, laughing at the beautiful chaos of it all, catching glimpses of hidden magic, and feeling the itch to shake things up in your own life. 

David quietly reminds us that the coolest way to move through the world is with curiosity, compassion, and a little funk, weaving music, kindness, and community into every space, and proving that real change starts by listening and showing up as your most authentic self.

Only on Speaking of Travel! Stay tuned! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Our wellness is the heartbeat of our lives, the quiet rhythm that keeps us balanced, open, and whole. Yet in the rush of everyday living, we often forget to pause, to breathe, to simply be. There are sacred places in this world where we can return to ourselves, places that hold space for healing, reflection, and transformation. 

High in the whispering Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina, the Art of Living Retreat Center awaits you, a sanctuary where the air feels lighter, time slows, and your spirit begins to exhale. Here, wellness becomes a journey of rediscovery through yoga, meditation, Ayurveda, and soulful connection with nature.

In this episode of Speaking of Travel, I’m joined by Kelsey Daniels, Workshop Sales & Partnership Specialist, who helps bring the retreat’s transformational teachers and wellness leaders together to create life-changing experiences. Together we explore how this mountain haven inspires renewal, community, and deep inner peace.

If your heart is calling for stillness, clarity, or a chance to reconnect with your true self, this conversation will remind you that transformation begins the moment you choose to listen.

A beautiful, restorative listen, only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Author and travel professional Nina Zapala shares why she is dedicated to helping people create a personalized, transformative roadmap for self-discovery. Her trailblazing personality paradigm encourages self-awareness through spiritually focused typing.

Nina's typology is the keystone of her debut book, “Unpack Your Personality: Let Your Inner Guide Be Your Travel Guide.”

Andy McNeill, CEO of American Meetings, Inc., shares how hospitality and travel can come together to build lifelong business relationships. He has helped thousands of organizations build stronger relationships through shared human experiences and explains how the history of hospitality is now the cornerstone of today’s travel experience and why it has lasted so long.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Sarah Benoit is a digital marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and educator. She is also the co-founder and acting lead instructor of the JB Media Institute. And she is a passionate traveler.

Sarah shares how traveling can be a way to deepen your intimacy, connection, and understanding of the people you love. And she explains why sometimes she travels for adventure, but most of the time she chooses to be close to people and to strengthen relationships.

And Sarah shares how she decided to plan bucket list trips for her parents. Discover how she gets out of her comfort zone and exposes herself to uncertainty, exploration, and learning. Being so passionate about traveling, Sarah describes why the result is in her own personal growth along with having greater emotional agility, empathy, and creativity.

Also on this episode of Speaking of Travel is Tina Kinsey, VP of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport. Tina provides some tips on how to set the tone and ensure your travel experiences run as smoothly as possible. And she shares some info on what it takes moving so many people to their ultimate destinations and provides an update on all the progress being made on the new airport terminals.

A great listen! Only on Speaking of Travel! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Margaret Roach and Ken Druse are gardeners and writers offering up online courses on all things gardening. Margaret and Ken share how The Virtual Garden Club began and how they put together these programs to provide advice, encouragement, and camaraderie, along with answers to your gardening questions! 

Margaret is a longtime garden writer and  created a website, podcast, and weekly newsletter called A Way to Garden, the title of her 1989 book that was reissued in 2019 in an all-new edition.

Ken is a celebrated lecturer, an award-winning writer, photographer and author of 20 garden books. The American Horticultural Society listed, The Natural Garden, among the best books of all time, and the New York Times called him “the guru of natural gardening.”

Ready to join the club? Click here! 

Also, Mark Collins from RomanticAsheville.com, shares how this guide to Asheville and Western North Carolina helps the community grow stronger and fosters inspiration and why  RomanticAsheville.com is the most visited travel website for those planning travel to this beautiful part of the world. Find out how they value their partners and readers to maximize exposure and ensure all the content is current and up to date. "There are a lot of moving parts carefully considered to ensure our readers have a seamless and rewarding experience," said Mark.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel! 

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 1995, LEAF Global Arts began as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Their mission...  to connect cultures and create community through music, arts education, and experiences, and to cultivate curiosity, preserve cultures and promote global understanding.

An organization like LEAF plays a significant role in fostering a sense of community and cultural identity. Over the years, LEAF has become an essential part of this community and provides opportunities for people to come together and celebrate their shared customs, beliefs, and values.

On this episode of Speaking of Travel, meet two integral participates in the LEAF experience who are helping to pass the magic forward. In this year’s theme of World Changers: Year of The Activist, they are world changers.

Adama Dembele is from the Ivory Coast, West Africa, and is the 33rd generation of a family serving communities through music and culture of the djembe.

Schree Antoinette is a cultural preservationist and heritage practitioner with a passion for safeguarding traditional cultural knowledge, customs, and natural resources.

Together they share how music and dance truly bring people together and break down barriers of race, class, age, gender, nationality, religion and political views.

Let’s be inspired to become active participants in the story of our global community.

SAVE THE DATES FOR LEAF 2024!

LEAF Retreat: May 9-12

LEAF Global Arts Festival: October 17-20

Visit TheLEAF.org 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 traveler.

I recently read a study showing how researchers have found that when we look at maps, our brains are activated in different ways, creating this unique and enjoyable experience. Enter the future. Today, there are ways to look and interact with maps we could never have dreamed of even just a few years back.

AJ Brau is CEO of Wandermap, a map solution where you can explore every nook and cranny of your chosen destination before you even set foot there. AJ shares the Wander story and explains how tourism boards are key to a sustainable tourism future and what’s next with their new interactive itineraries 🙌

Also, Tina Kinsey from the Asheville Regional Airport, describes how the airport is finding solutions to address rising passenger traffic as they build a beautiful, new terminal. Western North Carolina has needed a bigger airport for a long time and is finally realizing the expansion. The team at the airport are hard at work making it happen!

And with all this building going on, the Asheville Regional Airport continues giving back to the community. Tina shares how they contribute to local organizations and partner with economic development agencies to provide important information about air service to prospective businesses.

A must listen. Only on Speaking of Travel!

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’ve had some amazing travel experiences when I was sharing those experiences with others on the trip. Traveling with other people provides opportunities to try new things and even increases courage when there are other people around encouraging you to try something new and jump into that opportunity.

Matthew Kent is the founder of Kent World Travel. With his career in professional golf across South Africa, Europe and the USA, and living and playing in over 50 countries worldwide, Matt now spends his time between South Africa and the US hosting his clients on trips around the world.

Also, Noah Kleiner, owner of Equinox Guiding Service in Maine, is dedicated to providing transformative outdoor experiences to empower participants in overcoming fears, embracing challenges, and developing new skills in a supportive and encouraging environment, while challenging them to step out of their comfort zones and create unforgettable memories.

Tune in and discover the importance of getting outside, being with others, and even stepping out of your comfort zone. 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.

The Speaking of Travel And Leave No Trace TV series continues with host Richard Crawford. Richard talks to us while in Australia editing the epic Season Two of the popular Leave No Trace TV show with producer and cameraman, Ben Alcott.

Ricky and Ben share updates and tell us about their day-to-day progress and how they go about editing the show. And all the places we can watch Leave No Trace TV.

And discover how to be more of a savvy traveler and stay safe when traveling. Also, Ricky and Ben provide some examples from their trips  and explain why it's important for people to continue exploring and traveling and share the many reasons sustainable travel is important.

A must listen. Only on Speaking of Travel! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Liza Rutledge is the owner of Happy Hiking Company, specializing in leading captivating overnight guided backpacking tours across the stunning landscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Liza shares the benefits of a guided trip over a non-guided trip and why these experiences in nature are beneficial to your mental and physical health, builds outdoor skill sets, and is a great means of meeting new people.

Also on Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, VP of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares some of the stories of an industry in constant evolution and what the Asheville Regional Airport is doing to transform for this region’s future growth.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

LoAnn Halden (she/her) is the VP of Communications for the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, IGLTA. Their mission is to provide information and resources for LGBTQ+ travelers and expand LGBTQ+ tourism globally.

IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, was founded in 1983 and is the world's leading network of LGBTQ+-welcoming tourism businesses. They provide free travel resources and information while continuously working to promote equality and safety within LGBTQ+ tourism worldwide.

IGLTA’s members include LGBTQ+-friendly accommodations, transport, destinations, service providers, travel advisors, tour operators, events and travel media located in over 80 countries.

LoAnn shares how the LGBTQ+ community as a whole has made progress over the past few decades and explains how the transgender community still faces major challenges, particularly in the tourism industry.

Their IGLTA Foundation works with tourism businesses and transgender community leaders to develop a plan for making tourism more welcoming for transgender travelers.

And LoAnn describes their new IGLTA Accredited program, created to serve the gold standard of assurance that travel brands are committed to promoting equality and safety for LGBTQ+ travelers.

LoAnn shares how meeting these standards ensures properties and travel organizations meet comprehensive criteria and evaluation process before being recognized as IGLTA Accredited™.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Ariel Haas and Jason Moon, business partners at Glassy Stays, Asheville, NC's exclusive glass mirror house, share the benefits of staying at an eco-conscious accommodation for a vacation in the heart of the forest.

Today, the old-school, off-grid lifestyle is not as attractive as it once was, except maybe for those who like the camping lifestyle. Now it’s more about a luxury off-grid lifestyle as people are becoming more mindful of how they travel and where they stay. 

Ariel and Jason explain how this sustainable haven is bringing modern luxury into nature. And what makes Glassy Stays and the mirror house special.

Also on Speaking of Travel is Justin Belleme, founder of the JB Media Group, co-founder of the JB Media Institute and the DIY Tourism Marketing Workshop, and the publisher of Romantic Asheville.com. 

Justin is a leader in helping shape the future of sustainable travel and shares how alternative accommodations are becoming more popular and necessary.

Tune in! Only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Practical travel gear isn’t just stuff in a bag but really is peace of mind. It’s survival, resilience, and the quiet confidence of knowing, “I’ve got this,” whether you’re exploring the far corners of the globe or facing a disaster right at home. In a world where unexpected events can strike at any moment, being prepared isn’t just practical, it’s empowering. 

In this episode of Speaking of Travel, we dive into the life skills, mindset, and tools that go beyond the checklist. We explore the deeper connection between preparation and core values, and how a passion for being ready can transform the way we live. 

Dustin Hogard, Co-Founder of Wazoo, joins us to share his journey of pushing boundaries, embracing real experiences, and living a life with purpose. From sustainability and quality to customer support and the freedom that comes from stepping into the unknown, Dustin explains how Wazoo is on a mission to help people live prepared, capable, and free.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Travel the world with LEAF Global Arts. Their mission is to connect cultures and create community through world music, arts education, preservation, and experiences.

Join Chinobay, LEAF Global Arts Chairman of the Board of Directors and a catalyst for positive change through his multifaceted journey beginning in Uganda, and Ryan "RnB" Barber, LEAF’s Spark the Arts artist-in-residence for Black History Month and a staple of Asheville NC's legendary music scene, as they share why music is the world's universal language.

Chinobay and Ryan explain how the world-changing theme for LEAF 2024 resinates with their desire to enhance the lives of children across the globe.

Together they share how music is their vehicle to travel the world and showcase the universal language of music, transcend borders, and unite people in a shared musical experience.

Join artists from around the world at the LEAF Global Arts Experience in downtown Asheville year-round, or at LEAF Global Arts Retreat each May, and LEAF Global Arts Festival each October. You will travel the world through music, culture, and the arts.
 
SAVE THE DATES FOR 2024:

LEAF Retreat: May 9-12

LEAF Global Arts Festival: October 17-20

Visit TheLEAF.org for more information. Become a part of the LEAF family and help cultivate a thriving global community generated by the power of cultural curiosity, education, connection, and preservation.

Tune in! Only on Speaking of Travel. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Ever wonder why it feels so great to be out in nature? Amanda Baker, Partner Marketing Manager with Visit North Carolina and oversees North Carolina’s Outdoor NC initiative, and Clark Lovelace, Executive Director of the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority, share how the love for the outdoors makes us feel happy, inspired, and excited to explore more. And why it's important to to build awareness around responsible travel, destination stewardship, and sustainable tourism concepts.

Amanda explains how North Carolina has a strong commitment to protect and preserve the culture and natural resources of the state. With three flagship programs in place: Leave No Trace, Accessible Outdoors & Trail Town Designation, they have expanded their initiatives beyond responsible travel by providing educational workshops, along with a practical tool-kit, to advance stewardship activities and communications.  

Clark shares how Transylvania County is recognized for their long-standing roll in sustainability by creating Transylvania Always and Leave It Better as their key initiatives.

And with 250 waterfalls in Transylvania County, Clark relates how waterfall safety is a focus they share with land agencies, emergency personnel, and others. 

The state and its partners are creating programs with local businesses, residents and visitors to help protect and preserve North Carolina’s outdoor spaces for the future. 

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Omi Salevea of the McDowell County Tourism Development Authority in the Blue Ridge Mountains, shares why outdoor recreation is important in preserving natural landscapes and for protecting culture and heritage. And why it's good for your body too!

One of my favorite places to get outdoors is in Old Fort, a small town not far from Asheville in McDowell County, NC. It's a mountain town in the way the Pisgah National Forest and the Blue Ridge Mountains surround this beautiful place. 

And there’s a rich history dating back to before the Revolutionary War and so many incredible things to do outside. Omi fills us in on all there is to see and do in this special area and why one trip is just not enough.

Also on Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, provides an update of the largest construction project in the airport’s history and how they have marked yet another record-breaking year in 2023.

With about a 22.2% increase over 2022 figures, the airport's annual passenger count grew beyond the historic 2 million mark for the first time ever.

The global air travel industry in 2023 demonstrates people are traveling more and more and the Asheville Regional Airport is growing to become a landmark infrastructure project for Western North Carolina.

Find out more! Only on Speaking of Travel. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Enock Glidden is an accomplished outdoorsman and is found adventuring every season of the year. Born with Spina Bifida, Enock has learned to do things differently than others and shares how attitude is everything.

Also on Speaking of Travel, discover why collaboration and meaningful relationships provide a framework for inspiration. Guest Mark Collins, Partnerships Manager for RomanticAsheville.com, builds strategic partnerships and combines responsibility, sustainability and safety into one coherent voice to help foster conservation and inspiration for growing stronger as a community and as good people.

People making a large positive impact in the world sometimes attribute their passion by what they do differently. And then they inspire others who might recognize they have something special that other folks don’t and can finally move forward to have their voices heard.

A very special Speaking of Travel. Only on Speaking of Travel!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

The Speaking of Travel And Leave No Trace TV Series with Richard Crawford, host of the popular TV series, Leave No Trace, continues with new stories and tips to help change your life for the better and see sights so rich in wonder they will take your breath away.

In this, the first episode of the new year, discover Ricky's backstory...  How does a small boy from Paisley, Scotland, end up traveling the globe? And have the opportunity to visit some amazing places that life has to offer? What was it like going from being a  luxury brand ambassador to creating a show with an emphasis on protecting the environment?

And Ricky shares some best practices in this tourism sector and how these leaders are making a difference. And find out what it was like to have traveled to all seven continents for Season Two.

The Speaking of Travel audience wanted to find out how Ricky and Ben (cameraperson/producer) decide on the best ways to capture the essence of a destination. Discover how they do it and how they train for their trips.

To ask Ricky and Ben questions, simply contact Marilyn at mb@speakingoftravel.net.

There are new ways to watch Leave No Trace TV, and Ricky explains how to watch, where to watch, and provides updates on Season Two and when the season will be ready for viewing.

All on Speaking of Travel. Tune in! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Real Asia Founder Nick Wang and Associate Nina LaFerla share their passion for Asia and its diverse cultures with US teachers and students and create ways to utilize travel as a means to deepen the understanding between us and the destinations we visit. 

Nick has extensive business relationships with Chinese schools, companies, and NGOs and has been leading Real Asia to help many schools across the US with their faculty-led study trips.

Nina is a devoted educator whose engaging, award-winning teaching style has taken her to classrooms around the world, from France to the Tibetan regions of China. Nina fell in love with China on her first trip there when she was only 14 and since then has spent many years studying, teaching, and guiding in China.
 
Discover why Asia is such a unique travel destination and how Nick began Real Asia to provide the most authentic experience with an immigrant's perspective of helping others travel.

Also, Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares how this airport's improvements and projects address long-term growth and what the airport is doing to keep pace with increased passenger traffic, security and the passengers’ needs.

In the fall of 2022, the FAA announced the availability of $1 billion during 2023 for airport expansion projects, mostly earmarked for airport infrastructure project. Over the last couple of years, there have been many changes to federal funding programs in the U.S. that dramatically widened the scope of airport expansion all over the country.

Find out how this airport is planning on accommodating current and future air service expansion. A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Tess Vigeland is a longtime journalist and podcaster. And she is an avid photographer who shoots mainly landscape photos around the beautiful Pacific Northwest. Tess shares how sometimes wanderlust shows up and she just must go.

It's been more than five years since Tess returned from her time abroad and she describes what it's like to go so long without real international travel and why she's super excited to get back out again.

Tess is a wanderer and her upcoming trip to Portugal is no exception to her wanderlust. Find out how she rolls with no real plans except to rent a car, get out a map, and just go.

And Tess shares how these last five years of no real international travel has given her more perspective of how much she loves traveling throughout her home region of the Pacific Northwest.

She explains how countless road trips, many of them 1,000+ miles within two states, fills her soul to travel this way in an extraordinarily beautiful corner of the globe, one that draws photographers from all over the world, and what's different for her now versus when she grew up there.

Find out how Tess is looking at all of this literally through a new lens of photography and why she's never so happy as when she's on the road, in her car, with her camera, by herself.

And speaking of being alone, Tess is going to Portugal alone and tells us she's actually not sure she'll ever want to travel with someone again. Not that she'll never say never, but discover why she feels solo travel is it for her!

For more info about Tess and to follow her journey, visit www.tessvigeland.com.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Jane Adams, former director of Partnership Relations with Jane Fortune and Advancing Women Artists,  a non-profit organization that was dedicated to rediscovering, restoring, and exhibiting works by women artists found in Florence’s Museums and State deposits, shares how she is continuing to raise awareness about forgotten artists and reclaim their rightful place in history.

Jane explains how meeting Jane Fortune and Advancing Women Artists led to one of the most recent examples of lost art and also one of the most impressive. Sister Plautilla Nelli’s (1524-1588) The Last Supper is the only known depiction of Christ’s last meal by a female artist in the pre-modern age.

The self-taught artist’s massive canvas—about 21 feet long and 7 feet high—is one of the largest works by a woman artist of the pre-modern era in the entire world. Though women were banned from studying anatomy, Nelli defied conventions of the time by taking on a theme reserved for male artists and creating 13 life-size male figures.

There are still so many questions and Jane helps clarify why some of these works were never considered masterpieces. A movement is happening now around Italy's women's art restoration and Jane will bring you into a history that is not just restoring the works of art, but also restoring women’s place in art history. Over the past 10 years, over 70 works of art are now restored.

When you think about it, art has always been used as a means of storytelling and has vastly enriched our lives. The world needs women to inspire us, to raise our spirits, and to serve as role models for our future generation of girls.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

The Asheville Art Museum is an example of how museums engage, inspire and enlighten communities. Museum leaders Kate Faulkner and Neal Page share how the Asheville Art Museum transforms lives through art.

When I’m visiting new places, I like to prepare my options for what to see and do. And one thing always on my agenda is going to a museum. Usually more than one. And why not? Museums are community centers and always make you feel good. Even smarter! And most likely there is a museum near you right now.

And lucky for us right here in Asheville, NC, the Asheville Art Museum was established by local artists  and is the third oldest art museum in the state. Big changes happened in the museum building during their major expansion and renovation project a few years ago and now it’s time to catch up!

Tune in! Only on Speaking of Travel! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Italy looks like a high heeled boot and Puglia is the heel of that boot. Mark Gordon Smith, founder of Private Italy Tours, shares how the eclectic history of Puglia left an imprint on what we see today.

I’d fallen in love with Italy a few times before I traveled with Mark Gordon Smith, and it’s no wonder people love traveling with him. He could be the ambassador to Italy. He knows this country like the back of his hand. Or should I say the heel of the boot!

Travelers new to the region might wonder if Puglia is worth visiting? Mark is here to answer with a resounding yes!

Mark shares why this wonderful part of the world is unique, magical and friendly. With some of the best food, historical sites and deep, rich history, Puglia and Basilicata is a great region to avoid the chaos of the crowds found in other parts of Italy.

Join Mark as he shares all there is to know about traveling  in Puglia and Basilicata — some of the most surprising and least traveled of Italy’s regions — and see another side of Bella Italia.

This trip showcases a truly unique blend of culture unlike anywhere else in the county, all largely untouched by tourism and at a leisurely Italian pace.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Speaking of Travel welcomes Leigh Barnes, the new President of the Americas for Intrepid Travel, a certified B Corp travel company on a mission to make travel a force for good. Leigh leads Intrepid’s fastest-growing U.S. market, bringing curiosity, compassion, and care for the planet to every adventure. 

Leigh shares how his love of adventure shaped his career and leadership style and why responsible, small-group travel is more important than ever. From community-based tourism to climate-conscious trips, discover how Intrepid Travel is redefining what it means to explore the world with purpose while staying resilient and innovative. 

Hear about how Intrepid’s short-break trips bring meaningful travel experiences by offering travelers meaningful ways to connect, learn, and give back, all while leaving a lighter footprint.

Tune in and get inspired to travel better, live lighter, and make every journey count. 🎧 

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

The Speaking of Travel And Leave No Trace TV Series with Richard Crawford continues, highlighting the importance of conservation, sustainable travel and eco-tourism. And sharing what the new year has in store.

This is the best time to catch up with Season One of Leave No Trace TV and Ricky shares the details so you can tune in and enjoy.  And he provides some updates on Season Two and where you can watch some fun trailers. And Ricky shares how traveling and seeing the world inspires him. And will inspire you!

Also, Ricky loves answering questions from you! If you have questions for Ricky, email mb@speakingoftravel and send along. On this episode of Speaking of Travel, Ricky shares what it's like for him to be on TV and what was his biggest travel mistake.  And he tells us about some weird food experiences. Spoiler alert...ICK!

And good news! Being a holiday episode, Ricky sings for you! A must listen!

Only on Speaking of Travel! Tune in and Happy Holidays!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Maria Grazia Marini, Director of Tourism for Ravenna, Italy, shares why this special city, once the capital of the Western Roman Empire, is today a blend of ancient mosaics, Roman architecture, and Dante magic.

I was recently in Italy and among the many places I visited, one of my favorites was the beautiful city of Ravenna. It is impossible to forget the incredible number of historic sites, remarkable buildings, museums, and churches, as well as an important list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Ravenna is a city of inspiration and Maria Grazia explains the story of Dante Alighieri and why his writings and poetry has made him an important voice for our modern times as he emerged as the poet of hope and desire and mercy.

Maria Grazia also shares why the fabulous restaurants and food in Ravenna is reminiscent of what it might have been like a hundred years ago. The food transports you to another time. This is truly a magical place!

A must listen, especially for anyone wanting to visit a part of Italy you might not have ever traveled before. And such a grand place indeed!

Only on Speaking of Travel! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Justin Belleme, founder of the JB Media Group and publisher of Romantic Asheville.com and Tina Kinsey, VP of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, share how they are working to shape this region’s future growth.

Justin is a travel industry leader and provides strategic direction and expertise in the travel and tourism industry. He shares his recent experience at a sustainable travel conference called Tourism Cares: The Power of Partnership Stewardship Summit. The summit represented an opportunity to come together and envision a collaborative, cross-sectoral, and inclusive future for travel and tourism. Justin explains how the industry is recognizing a renewed sense of hope and what actionable steps are available to contribute to a more sustainable travel industry and a healthier planet.

Also on Speaking of Travel, the Asheville Regional Airport is one of the fastest-growing airports in the country  Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development,  shares some of the stories of an industry in constant evolution and what the Asheville Regional Airport is doing to transform this region’s future growth.

Before taking off, it is crucial to dedicate time to prepare, especially if you will be traveling to a new airport. Tina talks about how to begin your journey by thoroughly studying your destination’s airport information and begin to understand specific procedures that you need to be aware of. And she provides an update on all the latest changes at the airport as construction for the new terminal continues. 

Only on Speaking of Travel! Tune in! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Lisa Jansen, a traveler and writer based in New Zealand, spent almost five years living in a camper van traveling around New Zealand. Lisa shares her experience and what inspires her to travel unconventionally.

 Lisa embarked on a life-changing adventure when she left her successful corporate career at 33. Her mission was to discover life beyond the conventional paths of marriage, parenthood, mortgages, and corporate life. 

Discover how these five transformative years spent as a nomadic lifestyle not only provided a broader picture of the world around her, but also unearthed profound answers within herself.

Her latest book - Life Done Differently: One Woman’s Journey on the Road Less Travelled, is a compelling memoir exploring the challenges and triumphs of navigating an alternative path in a world that often follows convention.

Also on Speaking of Travel is Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport  to share updates on the new terminal construction and how they are preparing for the expected huge volumes of holiday travelers and what you’ll want to know to be prepared yourself.

Whether you are flying for the first time or as part of your holiday tradition, remember that the skies are vast, and there is always something new to learn.

And with the new terminal construction going on, the key to successful holiday flying lies in continuous learning, thorough being prepared, and a commitment to staying current and proficient.

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Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Larry Olmsted is an award-winning journalist and bestselling author who has published many intriguing books and thousands of articles for major newspapers and magazines worldwide over the past 25+ years. 

And he personally broke or set three different Guinness World Records, in skiing, golf and poker. It's no wonder he was named one of the “10 Most Extreme U.S. Journalists” by the Society of Professional Journalists and Travel Writer of the Year by the State of Mississippi.

Larry shares why he wrote his book, Real Food, Fake Food: Why You Don’t Know What You’re Eating & What You Can Do About It, and explains why food is the one unifying element of travel and what he tries to learn about local and regional food wherever he visits.

As an active traveler, Larry is also a passionate cyclist and reveals his love of cycling tours, including his personal favorite, the combination of cycling and gastronomy.

He shares the fun he's had on some of his bike trips in Italy, including Tuscany, the Ligurian Coast, Piedmont and the Veneto. And his visits to Parma, Bologna and Emilia-Romagna touring cheese dairies, ham producers, and taking cooking lessons. Yummy!

With all this travel under his belt, Larry provides some useful and timely travel tips, including why you should hire a guide or take a tour to really get to know the places you travel.

A must listen. Only on Speaking of Travel!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

The Speaking of Travel And Leave No Trace TV series continues. Host Richard Crawford is in Australia editing the epic Season Two of the popular Leave No Trace TV show with producer and cameraman, Ben Alcott.

Ricky and Ben share where they are today in the editing process of Season Two of Leave No Trace TV and what they do in creating the show. And they share how traveling to all the continents this year changed their lives.

Also, Ricky and Ben offer advice to anyone who wants to do something adventurous and different but isn’t sure whether they’re capable and they share some important tips before going on your trip.

They also tell us about some of their most hair-raising moments and what the biggest challenges are in doing the show.

And, find out how their mission to promote sustainable travel determines where they will go next.

Only on https://speakingoftravel.net! Tune in!

And be sure to watch Season One of Leave No Trace TV on Amazon Prime and on many other streaming platforms around the world. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Fede Vargas was born in Mexico and raised in Canada. He’s a former adrenaline-driven sales exec who is now on a purpose-driven podcasting journey and the creator and host of the popular podcast My Most Authentic Life.

Fede shares how he connects with people choosing to live courageously and inspire and empower us to create the life we truly want to explore with self-compassion, self-care, and humility. His podcast was inspired and born because of his own transformational journey while living in Mexico. Discover what authenticity means to him and how travel shapes these experiences.

Also on Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares how the new airport design more than doubles the square footage of the current terminal and is planned to accommodate future growth. Find out how the phasing of the new terminal will unfold to maintain safe airport operations for your passenger experience. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Jan Schroder is a travel writer and editor for close to 25 years and shares how she began her career. Jan provides advice for people who want to be successful travel writers and also reveals some useful travel tips.

For many years, Jan was the managing editor of a travel magazine and a freelance travel writer for well-known outlets including Fodor’s, Orbitz, Global Traveler and International Living. Today she focuses on writing and producing the monthly digital publication The Travel 100, which is part of The 100 Companies based in Atlanta.

Jan explores some of the most challenging parts of being a travel writer and shares some trends she is seeing in travel today.

Also on Speaking of Travel, grab your comfy sweaters and get ready to plan your ultimate getaway to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. Mark Collins, Partnerships Manager for RomanticAsheville.com, the most popular online travel guide to the mountains and foothills surrounding Asheville and Western North Carolina, gives us the lowdown on the best ways to boost your energy and mood when the temps are cooler and sunshine is scarce. 

So stay tuned!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Speaking of Travel takes us into the private world of two maestros of the kitchen who share their passion for community with stories and inspirations to reveal what helped them become modern culinary legends.

Chef Erica McCier, also known as Chef Trudy, is the owner and executive chef of Indigenous Underground restaurant in Abbeville, SC. Chef Erica’s indomitable spirit, talents in the kitchen, and penchant for showcasing local ingredients have earned her a place on the 2023 roster of South Carolina Chef Ambassadors.

Also on Speaking of Travel, renowned Chef Steven Goff, owner and executive chef at Asheville, NC's beloved Tastee Diner, shares his early life experiences and how these life-changing moments launched his career as a chef and restaurant owner dedicated to supporting the local community through his food.

Just like certain people who are really good marathon runners, or pianists, or writers, others have what it takes to become legendary cooks. Stay tuned for more fabulous chefs coming up on the Speaking of Travel Foodie Lover Series.

Tune in! Only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Amit Jaipuria, founder of Postcard Travel Club, is connecting luxury travelers with boutique hotels and tours that advance responsible tourism and shares why storytelling helps make travel a force for good. When you put people who live in and care about destinations at the center of travel content, their innate joy in sharing their stories and their passion for place says it all.

Amit shares the importance of storytelling in promoting responsible tourism and how Postcard is helping users identify hotels and tours that advance responsible tourism and helping them build their wish lists to travel more sustainably. And find out what's coming up at Postcard in the near future in terms of features.

With airports set as the core driver of travel and tourism industry changes, they are being transformed in the process. Also on this episode of Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares how the airport is transforming right now and the purpose of all this change.

Tune in. Only on Speaking of Travel. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

For over a decade, Speaking of Travel has been the place where we explore the heart of travel, connection, and community. And now we’re heading to the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago to uncover how adventure, comfort, and sustainability can come together to create truly meaningful journeys. 

Our guest, John Hadad, Group Co-CEO and Co-Founder of HADCO Group, is leading a movement through HADCO Experiences, one of the region’s newest eco-conscious destination management companies redefining how we think about travel. 

With a bold mission to put nature first, HADCO Experiences is transforming the way we connect with place by honoring the natural world, uplifting communities, and creating opportunities for travelers to discover the breathtaking beauty of Trinidad and Tobago while protecting its fragile ecosystems. 

From the revival of the legendary Asa Wright Nature Centre to redefining what regenerative tourism really means, John shares how comfort, adventure, and responsibility can exist in perfect harmony. 

Come check this episode out! You will fall in love with the magic of this place!

Only on Speaking of Travel!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Travel is known to change you. Surrounding yourself with different cultures, different people and different outlooks on life are bound to change all of us a bit. 

That’s one of the greatest things about traveling as a whole - apart from tasting the different cuisines of course! We are on a constant learning curve as we venture from our comfort zones.
 
The Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford continues. Richard is the host of the popular TV series Leave No Trace TV and we highlight the importance of conservation, sustainable travel and eco-tourism.

Ricky catches us up on Season Two of Leave No Trace TV and provides updates on when this new season is coming out. And he shares some ways we can be ambassadors when we travel and where he's most intrigued to go next.

You can watch Leave No Trace TV on Plex, a free, online streaming service. 

Tune in. Only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Speaking of Travel is celebrating our 10-year anniversary by revisiting classic Speaking of Travel conversations from our first decade, like this one with Pico Iyer, essayist and author, best known for his travel writing and one of the most revered and respected travel writers alive today.

Pico brings an understanding of the beauty and wisdom of cultural differences and shares how an emerging global culture benefits your travel adventures how we can all be more mindful travelers.

For over four decades, he’s written 16 books, translated into 23 languages, on subjects ranging from the Dalai Lama to globalism, from the Cuban Revolution to Islamic mysticism. For Pico, travel is a professional devotion as much as a spiritual one. 

Travel is a key theme in most of Pico's works. He tries to see within a society or way of life from an outsider's perspective. Pico shares his thoughts and curiosity about the bigger world to help us rethink assumptions and to be mindful about new ideas and insights. 

Get ready to dive into Pico's world of thought-provoking stories and unforgettable insights! Whether he's in a Benedictine hermitage or suburban Japan, his quest for understanding the world is ongoing and endlessly fascinating. “A person susceptible to "wanderlust" is not so much addicted to movement as committed to transformation.” Thank you Pico! 

A must listen. Only on Speaking of Travel. Find out more about Pico Iyer. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Marcy Berra shares her travel stories and reflects on travel memories spanning many years and many countries. Marcy explains how to immerse yourself in the local culture by connecting with the people, history and food. 

Listening to Marcy's stories fuels imagination. She has the courage to open herself up to taking risks and making changes. She is flourishing and adapting her strength to help make travel memories for her family. 

Marcy shares some clues into what travel teaches us and how it's alright to leave your comforts to make new friends, try new things, and appreciate other cultures.

She also provides some timely travel tips if you're traveling with different generations and why sometimes you just have to have the mustard.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Travel insurance continues to be one of the most confusing aspects of the travel experience. Ben Camille is a foremost travel insurance expert and founder and CEO of Travel Defend, the leading insurance broker. Ben answers questions and shares tips on how to know what to look for to travel smarter.

Ben is an entrepreneur and shares how his businesses begin and develop into leading industry leaders. If you're wanting to begin a business, find out from Ben how he does it.

Smart travelers plan for known travel safety risks. This can include the weather and potential health concerns. Of course, it’s impossible to plan for the unknown, but the good news is there are experts who are there to help you. 

Ben Camille is an expert who gets travel insurance. He can put himself into the mindset of travelers and has deep connections in an industry that is still something of a mystery.

If you have a passion for travel and want to be as prepared as possible to get out and about, listen to this special episode of Speaking of Travel!

Contact Travel Defend for quick, professional information. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

The Speaking of Travel and Leave No Trace TV series continues with host Richard Crawford and director and camera person, Ben Alcott. They share tips for safety and health while traveling and what’s coming on Season Two. 

You can now watch all episodes of Leave No Trace TV, Season One, on Tubi, the leading free, premium, on-demand video streaming app, and on Bingenetworks.tv.

Ben and Ricky share Season One highlights and what stood out most and when we will be seeing Season Two.

Also, they share what plans for growth and development are in store for Leave No Trace TV moving forward. And some top tips for staying safe and healthy while traveling.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Ukrainian-born pianist Inna Faliks shares her new book, "Weight in the Fingertips: A Musical Odyssey from Soviet Ukraine to the World Stage,” a memoir of her adventures in music and her hopes for tomorrow.

Inna shares what it was like growing up in Odessa, studying in Chicago, and teaching in Los Angeles. Her poignant, beautiful story about love and hope includes the special people in her life who supported her growth and desires, her own “love story," and how the war in Ukraine and her own life journey in music fosters empathy and compassion.

She also explores how a person’s humanity makes their art honest and their voice unique, and how the life-long challenge of retaining that voice is fueled by a balance between being a great musician and being a human being. Inna provides powerful insights into the role of music in a world of conflict, change, and hope for a better tomorrow.

A must listen. Only on Speaking of Travel. Tune in.

For more information, visit www.innafaliks.com

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, shares the current state of travel to Italy.

Find out how hotel costs in Italy are changing and which websites you can use to find competitive fares and techniques to negotiate directly with airlines.

Mark also shares where visitors are going in Italy to avoid crowds and large cities, the new itinerary services offered by Private Italy Tours, and their newest tour addition in 2024 to Trentino Alto-Adige.

Also on Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares how design, engineering, financing and construction take significant time in the “airport world,” and how this well-connected airport is leading the way to the future.

Stay tuned! Only on Speaking of Travel.

Guest Links:
www.private-italy.com
https://flyavl.com

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Loti Woods, Co-Founder and Ex. Director of Champions For Wildlife, shares how traveling and educating children about how to love wildlife using art is helping create a passion for helping to change the world. 

Loti and her husband travel around the country for their nonprofit Champions for Wildlife with a very simple mission: To inspire kids to fall in love with wildlife using art. 

Their focus is on underdog species like the red wolf which only lives in one place in the world - North Carolina.

Before the pandemic, Loti had traveled to over 100 countries. When the pandemic hit, she and husband decided to quit flying and explore the US in an RV.

Loti shares how meeting so many passionate people in conservation has created a community of people who support and advocate for wildlife. Donations and volunteers are always welcome and needed to support the nonprofit.

Also on Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares how one of the best-connected regional airports in the country, is moving to the future and taking off on the most significant infrastructure endeavors in the airport's 60-plus year history.

Tune in!

Guest Links

Champions for Wildlife

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.

Imagine hospitality providers who instill their guests with the confidence and inspiration to try new things and new places to explore.

Jennifer Simpson, CEO (Chief Experience Officer) and co-owner of Bespoke Experiences, based in New Orleans, provides custom, luxury travel services in 17 cities throughout the US and Canada. 

Jennifer shares why creating superlative human experiences that connect consumers in new and innovative ways, while doing what is right for society and the planet, is the future and she describes some reasons why people adopt luxury travel.

Also on Speaking of Travel is Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, to share how this airport is standing at a pivotal moment to shape the future.

Tina explains why their groundbreaking historical journey for new growth is bigger than anything experienced in the airport's history and how the construction of the new airport terminal is a natural next step for  connecting the Western North Carolina region to the world. 

Stay tuned! Only on Speaking of Travel!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Professional dancer and trained musician Mickela Mallozzi is the award-winning host and producer of Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, a dance travel series covering her adventures as she experiences the world, one dance at a time. 

Mickela is magical and joyful and so passionate about the people of the world you just want to be with her and dance!

From re-discovering her family’s roots in Southern Italy to dancing tango in Buenos Aires, the series has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, O Magazine  Dance Magazine, Forbes, and more.

Mickela said, “I started this show simply to travel and learn as many dances as I could from around the world. What I didn’t expect to happen was the personal connections made by the show. We get some really heartfelt messages that are amazing … people who say they have become inspired to get a passport and travel or take up a dance class."

Mickela shares information about the upcoming Season 6 of Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi  and the featured communities in New York City including Latinx, Garifuna, Little Sri Lanka, Arab, Little Caribbean and more. 

Also, find out how Mickela connects with people and cultures through the universal language of dance and music and how cultural sustainability enriches travel experiences for both travelers and the environment.

Get energized by listening to this episode of Speaking of Travel and discover how you can easily practice cultural sustainability wherever you travel. And dance!

Stay tuned!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Airports are more than gateways and more like the heartbeats of their communities.

In this episode of Speaking of Travel, discover how the Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is redefining what it means to connect people, place, and purpose. 

With air travel soaring, AVL’s bold AVL Forward project is transforming the airport experience, more than doubling its space, introducing a fresh, modern design, and creating a safer, more calming environment that reflects the natural beauty and spirit of Western North Carolina.

Angi Daus, Vice President of Air Service and Corporate Communications, shares how innovation, intentional design, and genuine community connection are shaping AVL’s evolution and uplifting the entire region.

Angi sums it up beautifully. “Airports aren’t just places you pass through. They’re vital parts of the community fabric. At AVL, we’re growing with purpose, making sure every traveler feels that sense of belonging.”

This inspiring conversation uncovers how, when airports truly care, they become so much more than transit hubs and become trusted, transformative anchors of community life.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Julie Kaplan shares her solo adventure in Iraq and how her visit was transformative, challenged stereotypes and showcased the country's vibrant culture. And how she created a video series, "Julie in Iraq,” that is getting rave reviews.
 
Julie's passion for travel ignited at the age of 12 when she embarked on solo trips to visit her grandparents on the East Coast of the US. Since then, she has fearlessly embraced a life filled with adventures, both solo and with fellow travelers. 

Julie talks about her remarkable travel experiences in the Kurdistan region and how she travelled by hitchhiking, navigating border checkpoints, staying in the homes of strangers, and the amazing food she loved!

Also on Speaking of Travel for those thinking of moving to another country. There are challenges and what could be life-changing experiences. Fellow traveler John Fritchie shares how moving overseas to Portugal has worked out so far and how he made the move happen and why. 

Only on Speaking of Travel. Tune in!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Guy Groom, an independent traveler with a passion for going off track into remote locations and exploring isolated cultures, shares how his inspirations for traveling changed over time and why not all those who wander are lost.

Guy explains why the freedom to wake up and do what presents itself to him is priceless, and what it feels like to truly be in the moment in the environment.  And how his joy in finding the "golden threads" in this world is so magical.

Also on Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares how the airport is looking to the future as passenger numbers continue to increase and how it projects trafficking for decades to come. Currently the airport is served by six airlines providing nonstop service to 26 unique airport destinations.

As with any airport's growth, a city grows with it. When that growth spikes in the next few years, local businesses and residents must be ready for the swift changes that follow. Tina updates construction and timelines.

Tune in! Only on Speaking of Travel. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Today we continue with the Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford. Richard is the host of the popular TV series, Leave No Trace TV, and together we highlight the importance of conservation, sustainable travel and eco-tourism. And Ricky has been out there traveling! 

On this episode, Ricky catches us up on where he and his crew have explored for Season Two of Leave No Trace TV and what the vibe is traveling right now. This is a fast-changing travel world with so many people traveling and Ricky shares what he's seeing.

And he explains what travel is teaching him now and how he handles travel stress and unpredicted situations. 

Also, Ricky answers questions from Speaking of Travel listeners about his travel life. And fills us in on where the Leave No Trace TV crew are off to next.

And find out all the locations you can view Season One of Leave No Trace TV. 

All right here on Speaking of Travel. Stay tuned!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.