Soul of Travel: Women Inspiring Mindful, Purposeful and Impactful Journeys
Hosted by Christine Winebrenner Irick, the Soul of Travel podcast explores the transformative power of travel while celebrating women in the industry who are breaking down barriers and inspiring others.
Each episode features conversations with passionate travel professionals, thought leaders, and changemakers who share insights on mindful travel practices, meaningful connections, and purposeful journeys.
The podcast highlights how travel can support personal growth, cultural understanding, and global sustainability, inspiring listeners to explore the world in a way that enriches both their lives and the communities they visit. Tune in to discover how travel and women in the industry are creating a positive impact.
Presented by JourneyWoman and Lotus Sojourns.
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In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Eliza Pesuit.
Eliza Pesuit is the Founding CEO of Global Glimpse, a national nonprofit transforming travel into a force for education, impact, and global connection. Under her leadership, the organization has served over 10,000 high school students from diverse backgrounds, provided $20M in scholarships, and built a proven model that cultivates empathy, agency, and global perspective. Named a Top Woman in Travel & Hospitality (2024) and one of Causeartist’s 30 Nonprofit Leaders Who Will Impact the World, Eliza is redefining what it means to prepare the next generation of globally minded, purpose-driven leaders. She is now expanding Global Glimpse’s reach through Global Glimpse Journeys—a new line of custom travel programs for teams, leaders, and professional networks focused on connection, reflection, leadership, and impact.
Christine and Eliza discuss:
· The intersection of travel, education, and impact
· Global Glimpse’s important role for teens and young adults
· Shifting access to the formative lessons of travel to create a more just and equitable society
· Growth, momentum and trusting the process
· Creating a vision for the ways that travel and education can help us to envision a different future for the tourism industry
Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Eliza Pesuit.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.
LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Eliza Pesuit (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by
In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Vaishali Patel.
Vaishali is an author, speaker, coach, and creator of the award-nominated Immersive India Tour, which was voted the UK’s number one city walking tour by The Times and The Sunday Times. Her book Solo Explorers empowers women to embrace solo travel for self-discovery and transformation. In her TEDx talk Your Body’s Intelligence, she explores how creativity can support self-awareness and healing. Through her coaching, tours, and talks, Vaishali helps individuals reconnect with themselves, express their stories, and lead authentically to create meaningful impact.
Christine and Vaishali discuss:
· The connection between travel and our inner journey
· How travel instills confidence and personal and professional transformation
· The Women in Travel, CIC Tour Guide Academy
· Vaishali’s unexpected journey toward creating a walking tour focusing on Indian culture that became a top selling experience in London
· Bridging Cultures and Creating Harmony in our own backyards
Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Vaishali Patel.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.
In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful mashup showcasing wisdom from the Women in Travel CIC community about the International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum (IWTTF).
Women in Travel CIC is a UK-based, award-winning social enterprise dedicated to fostering inclusion in the travel and tourism industry, by connecting underserved, diverse female and non-binary talent to employers and enterprising opportunities.
Christine shares clips from:
· Christina Lawford of Diamond Air International
· Zina Bencheikh, Managing Director EMEA Intrepid Travel
· Sofya Muhrer Muromets, Sustainability Manager at Evaneos
· Eljesa Saciri, General Manager at the Zetter Townhouse Marylebone
· Chantal Potgieter, Themba Travel
Join Christine for this soulful mashup.
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If you would love to join us this year in London for IWTTF, visit iwttf.com to get your ticket for the forum and the IWTTF Awards!
Visit the Soul of Travel Podcast website and search for these past award honorees and nominees to hear more. Jayni Gudka - Unseen Tours, Dee Gibson - Kalukanda House, Zina Bencheikh - Intrepid Travel, Jessica Brooks - Eternal Landscapes, Shayna Zand - WeTravel, Jools Sampson - Reclaim Yourself Retreats.
We would also like to share special recognition to our Community Partners and Podcast Allies: VanessaKarel - GreetHer, Iris Serbanexcu - wmnsWork, Vincie Ho - RISE Travel Institute, Beth Santos - Wanderful and friend the show, Tami Fairweather.
To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the
Conscious Tourism through Community and Traveler Engagement with Jessica Blotter
In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Jessica Blotter.
Jessica Blotter is the visionary CEO and Co-Founder of Kind Traveler, an internationally awarded responsible travel platform revolutionizing how we travel through its signature model, Every Stay Gives Back. As the first platform to connect travelers, hotels, and charities around measurable local impact, Kind Traveler empowers guests to create positive change in their communities by supporting environmental and social initiatives tied to each hotel stay.
Christine and Jessica discuss:
· Kind Traveler’s pivot over the last few years and the Every Stay Gives Back program
· The importance of measurable and transparent impact and sharing that with accommodations and travelers
· How to invest in local communities and the impact this creates on local economies and livelihoods
Join Christine for this soulful conversation with Jessica Blotter.
Tess Millhollon and the HerHouse team are excited to help make travel easier, safer, and cheaper for women across the world. Support the Kickstarter here!
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.
Thinking Bigger and Investing in Women with Sarah Dusek
In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Sarah Dusek.
After selling her first travel company, Under Canvas, in 2018, Sarah Dusek launched Enygma Ventures, a US-based venture capital fund to invest in Africa’s talented female entrepreneurs and contribute towards rectifying the great funding imbalance. Over the last 5 years, Sarah’s work has impacted over 10,000 entrepreneurs who have gone through Enygma’s investor-ready programs. In her new book “Thinking Bigger: A Pitch Deck Formula For Women Who Want To Change the World,” Sarah shares the challenges of her own journey building a $100 million company and shares the critical building blocks needed to scale any business. Sarah is also the Co-Founder & CEO of Few & Far, a net positive travel/climate company investing in large-scale regeneration.
Christine and Sarah discuss:
· The ways in which internalized beliefs stop women from dreaming and “Thinking Bigger”
· Sarah’s journey with Enygma Ventures and how she found her way to investing in women’s businesses in South Africa
· Thinking Bigger and how we can change the opportunities and outcomes of women in business
Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Sarah Dusek.
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Tess Millhollon and the HerHouse team are excited to help make travel easier, safer, and cheaper for women across the world. Support the Kickstarter here!
To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the
Lessons in Entrepreneurship and Sustainable Travel with Hilary Matson
In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Hilary Matson as part of our Return to the Soul of Travel series.
Hilary Matson is the founder of Yugen Earthside, a curated platform connecting mindful travelers to responsible package trips. After nearly a decade at Amazon in Seattle, WA, and Paris, France, she earned an MBA at HEC-Paris while specializing in Entrepreneurship and Inclusive & Social Business. She launched Yugen Earthside in 2021 as a bootstrapped Social Purpose Corporation. Running this company is her dream job, allowing her to combine her love of travel with her passionate advocacy for sustainability.
Christine and Hilary discuss:
· Entrepreneur journeys and the growth of Yugen Earthside
· Creating responsible and sustainable travel platform models
· B-Corp certification and the UN Sustainable Development Goals
· Navigating marketing, visibility, and community in the travel industry
Join Christine for this soulful conversation with Hilary Matson.
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HerHouse is raising funding to get their app built natively by a professional developer team! Tess Millhollon and her team are excited to help make travel easier, safer, and cheaper for women across the world. Learn more and support the Kickstarter here!
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the
Sustainable Travel and Industry Evolution with JoAnna Haugen
In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with JoAnna Haugen as part of our Return to the Soul of Travel series.
JoAnna Haugen is an award-winning writer, speaker, consultant, and solutions advocate. She is also founder of Rooted, a solutions platform at the intersection of sustainable and regenerative tourism practices, social impact, and storytelling. Through Rooted, JoAnna works with destinations, travel brands, tour operators, media and travel writers, and tourism professionals from around the world to unlock the power of strategic storytelling and tourism communications that shine a light on responsible tourism and destination stewardship.
Christine and JoAnna discuss:
· Connecting with our authentic selves and expressing that in our business
· Challenges with embodying our true travel values
· Exploring the ways in which barriers keep more travelers from being able to travel responsibly
· How we can make choosing responsible travel a more frictionless experience
· Getting ourselves outside of our comfort zones in our business
· Learning from other industries and finding ways to inspire travelers and professionals to seek awareness, insights, and new ways to travel
Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with JoAnna Haugen.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.
Soul of Travel Listener Favorite: The Future of Responsible Travel with Norie Quintos
In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Soul of Travel listener and past guest Becki Rupp would like to share her favorite conversation with Norie Quintos.
Norie Quintos is a consultant for the travel industry on communications strategy, media relations, custom content, and messaging. She helps destinations and travel companies find and tell their stories through communications audits, seminars and training, coaching, and print and pixel projects. An award-winning journalist, she is a contributing editor to National Geographic Travel Media. Her interest areas are cultural tourism, indigenous tourism, regenerative tourism, diversity/equity/inclusion in travel, and transformational travel. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund and an advisor to Adventure Media, the Transformational Travel Council, Impact Travel Alliance, and Giving Way. Norie is the former executive editor of National Geographic Traveler and was an editor at U.S. News and World Report and Caribbean Travel and Life.
Christine and Norie discuss:
• Why it is the responsibility of travel content creators to tell a more complete story
• Slow travel and why it matters to destinations & travelers
• How to use travel as a place to create peace and find a sense of belonging in travel
• The beauty of finding a travel brand that supports impactful causes and empowers
Join Becki and Christine now for this soulful replay with Norie Quintos.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.
Soul of Traveler Listener Favorite: Revolutionizing Travel and Connection in Morocco with Siham Lahmine
In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Soul of Travel listener Lars von der Wettern would like to share his favorite conversation with Siham Lahmine.
Siham Lahmine is the ground businesswoman behind Morocco Travel Organizer. She is a well-known name in the world of high-end and customized travel. The fact that she started Morocco Travel Organizer shows how much she loves making unique travel experiences that connect deeply with the cultural richness of Morocco. Siham's 10+ years of work in the tourism industry are marked by her deep understanding of Morocco's rich cultural landscape. Siham's main goal with this business is to create itineraries that are more than just trips; they are life-changing experiences that meet and go beyond the expectations of travelers in Morocco who are looking for luxury and privacy.
Christine and Siham discuss:
· Launching and building a business in travel
· The value of cultural exchange through travel
· Empowering communities and women
· The importance of intentional community collaboration in travel and tourism
Join Lars and Christine now for this soulful replay with Siham Lahmine.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.
LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on
Soul of Travel Listener Favorite: Jumping the Picket Fence with Lydia Dean
In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Soul of Travel listener and guest Tara Busch would like to share her favorite conversation with Lydia Dean of Go Philanthropic.
At twenty-nine, Lydia Dean left Florida with her husband John and young children for a life-changing global journey, eventually settling in Provence, France. Her humanitarian work took her through India, Asia, and Latin America, leading to the creation of GoPhilanthropic Travel and GoPhilanthropic Foundation, connecting travelers with grassroots changemakers worldwide. Her two memoirs, Jumping the Picket Fence and Light through the Cracks, chronicle her experiences from living in Provence to working with human trafficking survivors in Nepal and India. Today, she and John run Only Provence and Provence Life while continuing their philanthropic work.
Christine and Lydia discuss:
· Why we seek powerful travel experiences
· How to give back in the most beneficial way while we travel
· The possibility that the most powerful parts of the Journey may be before and after we travel
· Truth, vulnerability, and connection for powerful change
Join Tara and Christine for this soulful replay with Lydia Dean.
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To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website.
LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app.
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Vaishali Patel (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing byCarl
LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app.
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Jessica Blotter (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing byCarly Oduardo.
Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Hilary Matson (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing byCarly Oduardo.
Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app.
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). JoAnna Haugen (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by
HerHouse is raising funding to get their app built natively by a professional developer team! Tess Millhollon and her team are excited to help make travel easier, safer, and cheaper for women across the world. Learn more and support the Kickstarter here!
Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Siham Lahmine (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by
LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee.
Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes!
Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app.
Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Lydia Dean (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing byCarly Oduardo.
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