Passports and Postcards – Details, episodes & analysis

Join me in conversation with my Guest Elaine Mercedes Mondeza. Yes, we talk about travel, social issues, and just about everything else. Elaine has been a nomad for the past eight years and finally has decided to make Spain her forever home. Elaine is so much more, an author, advocate, TEDx speaker and travel writer.

Elaine and I talk about she did everything by the book, the way the system says to do it and then the system failed her. The American system failed her and so did American society.

Elaine and I get a little hungry when we start talking about great dishes made by locals while in our destination, rather than eating at those chains. Eat where the locals eat, the place may not look like much, but trust us, the food is out of this world.

To learn more about Elaine, check out FinallyElaine
Get a copy of her book "Humanized: The Journey Back to You without Labels"
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Be sure to check out where it all started with her TEDx talk
Be sure to check out more of  her writing 

To learn more about your Host, Randall McKeown

Join me in conversation with Erika Bud. Erika went from being a Los Angeles Police Officer to an Author of Children's Books, but not just any type of book as we find out in this podcast.

Erika has travelled to some 30 countries and has actually lived in Spain and Australia and found her back in Barcelona for this podcast where she is spending a month with her son. Some people think you should not take your child out of school, however, we both agree that travelling to another country is a better way of educating.

Erika is also a podcaster with her own podcast called "Planes, Trains & Kids Abroad"

There is more to this story and we could have talked for hours.

To find out more about Erika you can check out her webpage, check Erika out on Instagram and be sure to check out Erika's podcast, Planes, Trains & Kids Abroad

To find out more about the host, check out Randall McKeown

Sit back and enjoy as your host Randall McKeown has a conversation with Scott Poniewaz, Head of EXEC at joinEXEC.com, a travel, hotel and life benefits program. Take a journey with Scott through his exciting experiences as a traveller, his journey with the international travel company he worked for, and his current projects. Listen as he talks about discovering new and exotic destinations, the changes in business travel due to the pandemic, his experiences of moving back to Montana, and his plans for the future. Embark on a journey of exploration and adventure with Scott to get a glimpse into his unique experiences and passions.

For those interested in the great benefits of JoinEXEC.com, Scott has a special offer for our listeners. 

For Passports and Postcards listeners, we are extending a lifetime annual access rate of just $195 per year* ($300 off the current $495/year rate). 

*Offer expires December 31, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. EST. The $195 annual rate only applies to the single-seat membership. The promo code will apply $300 off to higher-tier memberships. All memberships are subject to a nominal one-time initiation fee.

Use Code:  PASSPORTS2023

More about Scott Poniewaz can be found on LinkedIn, his website and the travel and life benefit program at JoinEXEC.com

More info about your host Randall McKeown can be found here

Join me in conversation with Teodor Mihail as we discuss some hidden destinations within Europe. Many travelers take the time to visit well known cities, however, there is so much more to discover off the beaten path. 

If you would like to contact Teodor when booking your next holiday, he can be reached at the following 

Phone 01-647-223-7530 
Web: www.unraveltravel.com
or email uwt@centreholidays.com

What a great thing to do during lockdown. I never ever imagined that I would create and produce a podcast. I have so much fun travelling and I love hearing other peoples travel stories. While we could not travel, I wanted to create something to encourage you all to continue to dream about travel. 

Season 1 was more about my travels and then as I moved into Season 2 , I changed it up more to an interview style. I loved the two way conversation and hope you loved it to. 

You can contact by writing to

Passports and Postcards
24-3350 Hornbeam Crescent
Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
L5L 3Z7

or you can email me at randall.mckeown@jlsetor.com

On this episode we speak with Katherine Barker Culclosure, Travel Advisor at Kindly Compass Travel. LLC. I have a candid conversation with Katherine about her career with NATO and having to relocate to Brussels. From the tearing down of the the WALL in Berlin to the joy of nations being accepted into NATO.

Katherine discusses her passion for dancing and booking group travel with that community. We explore current travel and some destinations that are open for Americans to travel to as well as future plans to explore Southern Africa with a River Cruise.

We delve into the importance of Normandy, the lives lost by both the US and Canada and why it is important to include Normandy to your bucket list.

If you are in the US and looking at booking a vacation and looking at Alaska, Europe or group travel you can contact Katherine through her website or check out her Instagram page

Sarah  is a veteran travel at the age of 29. A student of Travel at Fleming College and after graduation Sarah found herself working in Lake Louise Canada a hamlet in Banff National Park. 

After working there Sarah decided she wanted to see the world so at first she booked a one way ticket to New Zealand and then found out she had to have a return ticket in order to enter. After spending some quality time in New Zealand, Sarah found herself exploring and working in Australia and then a trip with a friend to Asia and then to Perth, Australia before touring Europe.

Once back in Canada, Sarah was approached by a family friend to come and work at his travel agency. Sarah said yes, and enjoyed working there until COVID and she has been out of work since March. If you are listening to this and you think you may have a job for Sarah, contact me and I will get the two of you in touch. Email me at : randall.mckeown@jlsetor.com

An experience traveler and now Travel Advisor, Teodor has done it all. Visiting 43 countries, five ocean cruises and one river cruise, Teodor uses his experience to guide his travel clients to destination and back again.

You can connect with Teodor at email: uwt@centreholidays.com
Visit his website at Unravel World Travel
Phone: 647-233-7530

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Dream to Travel. You may not be travelling now, or you may be travelling. From where I sit, not many people are traveling due to government travel restrictions. That can't stop us from dreaming. Here at Passports and Postcards, I want you to always dream about travel.

My friend and colleague discuss a bit about our trip to Cancun, Mexico and visiting all the Palace resorts in the area and having the opportunity to stay at two. We first stayed four nights at the beautiful Grand at Moon Palace and then we spent three nights at the Le Blanc.

We discuss the impact COVID has had on the tourism industry and especially travel advisors, agents, counsellors...whatever you want to call us.

Caren from www. planavacation.ca  gives a heart warming story of a the kindness of a stranger at the end of wild trip to Disney, almost home again, only to be diverted to Detroit and then having to fly back to Orlando as the airline had lost a car seat and the struggle to survive another six days in Orlando before the kindness of a stranger gave them the best gift.

Tune in to hear her story.
If you have any travel inquires you can reach Caren at cfunnell@planavacation.ca or visit her website at Plan a Vacation

If you like to send me a comment, you can reach me at randall.mckeown@jlsetor.com

Why travel? Join me as I interview Robert Norton a seasoned traveler who has visited 39 countries and many of those have been long haul travel spending up to 6 months on the road. His last long haul was an epic 14,500 km driving odyssey through 5 of Australia's 6 Territories.

Join us as Robert talks about the benefits of travel, and that travel is not always smooth sailing. The Good, Bad and Ugly

Robert is an author, photographer, entrepreneur and world traveler.

You can find out more about Robert and his company Eyes On Photo Tours

Check out Robert Norton's incredible photography

Robert Norton has been published in Accenti