Speaking Of Travel ®

Namrata Patel’s poignant and witty story, “The Candid Life of Meena Dave,” explores diaspora and dual-cultural identity among Indian Americans and why traveling helps to better understand what home really means.Namrata explores why travel, patience and perseverance are valuable traits to cultivate and pushes you to keep trying. "There’s an old saying that goes, 'If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.' This captures the essence of perseverance. Even when things get hard – which they almost always do – perseverance pushes you to keep trying."Also on Speaking of Travel, Jen Brooks of Romantic Asheville.com. provides a fall color forecast for the Blue Ridge Mountain region in Western North Carolina and shares how to celebrate one of the most beautiful times to travel.And Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport fills us in on how the airport is dedicated to community engagement and how it supports the region with a fund

For entrepreneur Becky Cannon, traveling and learning from different cultures is an integral part of providing healthy and practical products for the well-being and development of babies and families.From an early age, Becky questioned her life’s purpose and wondered, “How can I contribute in a positive way to these overwhelming global challenges around me?” Fast forward 40 years and her marketing message has remained solid ~~ “Take care of your baby, Take care of your self and Take care of the environment.” Green Sprouts, Inc. continues to follow their company values: Intention, Curiosity, Integrity, Connection and Prosperity.Becky's book, Grow Healthy. Grow Happy. The Whole Baby Guide, is a complete resource for parents to give their babies a healthy beginning. Congratulations Becky on leaving a beautiful, and important, legacy. Also on Speaking of Travel is Leslie Hartley, Director of Communications for The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area to share how this 25-county region works to preserve, protect

Mark Chesnut is a New York-based travel writer and public speaker. He's the 2019 winner of the NLGJA Excellence in Travel Writing Award and the author of the new memoir "Prepare for Departure" (Vine Leaves Press, 2022), which explores, among other relatable topics, the transformative power of travel.Mark shares some of his earliest travel memories and the role travel played in his childhood and adolescence. For Mark, traveling fosters a platform to build human connections by learning about culture, food and language and by discovering how people in other parts of the world live their lives just like us.  Also on Speaking of Travel, travel influencer extraordinaire, Johnny Jet, shares why patience is an essential skill to have when we travel these days and how cultivating and practicing patience will help you experience any situation with grace. 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 sa

The Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford continues. Richard is the host of the Amazon Prime TV series Leave No Trace. And today we have a special guest. Dr. Rachel Dodds has over 20 years of international experience across a wide spectrum of the tourism industry, is the Director of “Sustaining Tourism,” a boutique consulting firm and is also an Associate Professor at Ryerson University in Canada where she joined the Ted Rogers School of Tourism & Hospitality Management in 2006.Richard and Rachel understand sustainability means long term planning and management and that experience and understanding of diverse cultures and environments is a fundamental part of tourism. They share examples and tips on how to enjoy sustainable activities that don’t pollute or use energy and how to seek out local experiences.Rachel's new book, Are We There Yet?: Traveling More Responsibly With Your Children, helps teach new responsibilities when traveling with your children and explores how it

Chow Chow is a unique culinary event series in Asheville, NC, providing a platform to amplify voices working to sustain and strengthen its community and promote the culture and culinary scene.Rebeca Lynch is the Executive Director of Chow Chow and has served alongside the passionate and committed volunteer board of directors. She supports the region’s community of creative makers, helping build community by bringing everyone together around the Southern Appalachian table. Jael Skeffington is co-founder & CEO of French Broad Chocolates and is a founding Board Member and Vice President of Chow Chow. She believes in using business as a force for good and is guided by a mission to source with integrity, craft with intention and build meaningful relationships with sustainable farmers. Chef Steven Goff’s cuisine has been recognized by Food and Wine Magazine, Bon Appétit, Garden and Gun, The Local Palate, and other local publications. In 2019 he was named Chef of the Year by the North Carolina Restaurant and Lod

Traveling across the world as a solo female, Christy Teglo documents her unique experiences along the way. Christy shares what it's like traveling again after these past few years and how it feels to be in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and her nine-day hiking tour in Ecuador.  And Christy talks about her love for long distance thru hiking. Her book, Weathered: Finding Strength on the John Muir Trail, is about her three-week backpacking trip in the California Sierra mountains and how this adventure allowed her time to reflect on the things she holds most important in her life. Discover where she went from there! Also on Speaking of Travel, Laura Sheets McCall, ED of Asheville’s Independent Restaurant Association (AIR), is an avid believer in giving back to the community and is leading local restaurants to grow the development of the industry with a commitment to collaboration and a focus on quality and efficiency.And Justin Bellame, a travel industry leader and founder of the JB Media Group, co-founder of the

Clark Lovelace, Executive Director for the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority in Western North Carolina, shares how sustainable and educational initiatives help improve healthy growth and protects natural resources. Despite the challenges over the past few years, Clark, his team, and members of the community continue to step up. Their tourism leaders understand the needs of locals and guests and want to help improve their quality of life by taking care of each other and the planet.Clark explores current trends in travel and tourism and the impact to the region and how important it is to be focused on areas beyond simply bringing visitors to the county. Discover how the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority shifted from a destination marketing organization to a destination management organization in order to focus on sustainability, safety and infrastructure.Also on Speaking of Travel, go behind the scenes with Tina Kinsey, Vice-President of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development

Nicole Smith, founder of Flytographer, a travel service that connects you with hand-picked local photographers in many destinations around the world, turned her side hustle into a multi-million dollar business.Today, Nicole and her team have grown Flytographer into a multi-million dollar business that operates across six continents and was ranked as one of the fastest-growing startups. She is passionate about sharing her experiences openly to inspire other women entrepreneurs around the world. Nicole shares how she created her startup from idea to side hustle to over $25 million dollars in sales and how she had to turn her business around during Covid. When the pandemic hit, her sales instantly went to zero and she had to lay off 80% of the team. Nicole explains how she was able to come back and continue to grow a profitable, evergreen business. Also on Speaking of Travel, find out how Chow Chow, a culinary event in Asheville, NC, is pairing diverse community leaders with chefs to tell their own stories throu

Gandhi once said, “Though what you have to give may seem insignificant, it is very important that you give it.”Tanya Weaver, Executive Director of the American Foundation for Children with AIDS (AFCA), has helped families in some of the most underserved and marginalized communities in Africa. AFCA is a non-profit organization providing critical comprehensive services to infected and affected HIV+ children and their caregivers. Their programs are efficient and work successfully by promoting self-reliance and sustainability. Tanya shares how the organization helps the children in the programs become citizens of their country who are able to take care of themselves and know they have value. Also on Speaking of Travel, Corey Costanzo, co-owner of Still Point Wellness, a destination wellness spa in Asheville, NC, offers some unique experiences to move you along your quest for well-being. Corey lived and worked at the Esalen Institute in Big Sur and shares why maintaining an optimal level of wellness is crucial to

Milenlli Araya Masis is a naturalist guide in the Manuel Antonio region. Born in Costa Rica, she provides education into the country’s biodiversity with a vast knowledge of conservation, wildlife and history. Costa Rica has 169 areas of conservation protecting 26% of the territory, with 5% of the biodiversity of the planet. Milenlly shares some of the projects helping create successful conservation efforts in Costa Rica, including the reforestation of mangrove ecosystems in the community of Puerto Nispero, and Jacanas, a team of girls involved in bird watching and programs of conservation and biophilia. Consistent exposure to natural elements through biophilic design supports longevity and ensures future generations maintain an affinity with nature so they grow up to be stewards of the wild places and diversity of animals making our planet exceptional. Discover how an education center in Manuel Antonio is helping guarantee sustainability and environmental education in the Pacific of Costa Rica by doing invest

Francois Lemay is a professional goalie instructor and a hockey ambassador who traveled to North Korea to coach their hockey teams. His book, "If I Ever Make It Back: Coaching Hockey In North Korea," captures some of his stories about spending time with local North Koreans no one talks about and its resilient, humble, shy and down-to-earth athletes. Also on Speaking of Travel is Chef Luis Martinez from Oaxaca, Mexico. Chef Luis shares how he combines his love for cooking with his passion for social justice.  And Mark Bastin of Yonder Luxury Vacation Rentals explains 2021 vs 2022 trends and observations and shares some travel tips on how to make your journey less stressful. 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 + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford of the Amazon Prime TV series, Leave No Trace, continues. Learn how to better prepare for traveling and find solutions to become a savvy traveler. Ricky talks about his latest travel experiences and shares his observations on what we can do to be smarter about traveling and how to get the most value out of this privilege we have again. And how to be more mindful and patient by having realistic expectations.Today there are so many resources to help guide us to easily find travel info and help make better choices. Discover what you do to make sure everything goes smoothly.  Most importantly Ricky reminds us we must "take care of ourselves."And find out where Ricky and his team are going next for Leave No Trace TV.  Season two is off to an awesome start! 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 writer Joshua Jung traveled to Uzbekistan as a tourist and before long he began to feel as though he was being treated like a local. Josh shares why sometimes it's better to stand out as a tourist.Josh describes why being immersed in the life, culture, and language of another country through the lens of a local is the experience travelers search for. But for Josh, being an American – Korean-American, he's quickly outed as a tourist and proceeds to have a classic "tourist" experience.Discover why Josh chose Uzbekistan, a country with a rich culture and one of the last hidden gems in the backpacking community. Also on Speaking of Travel are Lisa Vann and Ben Krueger, owners of Huli Sue’s BBQ & Grill in Asheville, NC. They share how their long-time success with a restaurant in Hawaii keeps the spirit of Aloha alive and well in their lives. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy tra

Connie Berry’s dream of becoming an archaeologist ended when she learned there was more to it than discovering the tombs of lost pharaohs. Instead, she created the Kate Hamilton Mystery series, set in the UK and featuring an American antiques dealer with a gift for solving crimes.Her sense of place and love of the British Isles sets the tone for adventure and mystery.  Connie shares how she first fell in love with the British Isles and what  part the setting plays in her novels. Also on Speaking of Travel, Jen Brooks, the editor of RomanticAsheville.com, the most popular online travel guide to the mountains and foothills surrounding Asheville and Western North Carolina, shares what to see and do this summer and gives us a sneak peek into what we can expect this fall. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Andy Teirstein composes for film, opera, and movement theater and he finds inspiration in the folk roots of modern culture and as a folk fiddle and banjo player. His new album, “Restless Nation,” reflects, musically, on his many travels.Andy's early life reflects an eclectic background comprised of music, clown work, exploration, and acting. A vagabond by nature, his travels have helped bring strangers together, shatter stereotypes and open our minds to limitless possibility.  The Village Voice said Andy's music "seems to speak in celestial accents of some utopia whose chief industry is dancing." A must listen! Also on Speaking of Travel is Tina Kinsey from the Asheville Regional Airport to share tips on what you will need to know about air travel this summer.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Marilyn Ball, host of Speaking of Travel, and Richard Crawford of the Amazon Prime show, Leave No Trace TV, share current travel stories and tips to help you become a savvy traveler and equip you with skills to make travel easy. Even pre-pandemic, there was a surge in consumer consciousness and places were being built on sustainability. Ricky shares tips for choosing certified sustainable accommodations and what standards we should look for.Marilyn and Ricky also explore sustainable travel and comfort. Today there are ecolodges and tour companies doing their part to protect their communities and preserve cultural traditions that also offer private, luxury accommodations and world class dining. Find out how to be a more savvy traveler, how to prepare, research, explore and keep an open mind. Relax. 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 Collins, partnerships manager with RomanticAsheville.com, is at the center of creating successful partnerships in the travel and tourism industry and shares how cooperation and partnerships are used to achieve business and community goals.Mark shares how the resiliency of the travel industry over these past few years has helped turn us more into sustainable tourists, with an aim to travel with a light environmental footprint, to support local communities and to help protect culture and heritage. Many traveler’s today have a desire to experience history and culture wherever they travel. Mark's hope is to see curious, compassionate, open minded, educated travelers of tomorrow who are finding their own solutions to be kinder and more compassionate.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Diana Ralston is the founder and executive director of Can’d Aid, a national nonprofit that is creating a movement rallying people to become catalysts for change in their own communities through an unconventional approach to giving back.Diana’s many years of experience in the nonprofit sector and her entrepreneurial approach is changing the way people think about philanthropy. Can’d Aid's roots were founded along with Oskar Blues Brewery during a natural disaster with a fundamental belief everyone has the ability to give back and do good. Today their mission of creating a movement of do-gooders generates a ripple effect of goodness.  Diana believes we are all in this together and encourages community connection through small acts of kindness. And it's working!  Also on Speaking of Travel, Galen Marshall-Clark, the co-owner of Liminal Equus, an immersive trail riding and naturalist experience in Barnardsville, NC. Liminal Equus is a women-owned cooperative business based on connection with land, peop

Dayna Reggero of the Climate Listening Project is collaborating with Gulf Coast locals to help protect the place they love from oil and gas development through filming and making art to lift up the truth tellers.The Gulf Coast is not a sacrifice zone for pollution with already existing oil and gas development and now with 24 proposed LNG gas export terminals. This will be very harmful for the fragile environment and will be a hardship for the people living there. The Gulf Coast is home to beautiful people and communities. It’s a place people love to travel and is important for migratory birds. The Climate Listening Project is bringing the impact of what this would mean to the people and visitors along one of the most important shore lines in 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.

Richard Crawford, host of the Amazon Prime TV show, Leave No Trace, shares his recent journey to Australia and what it's like to travel today, addresses some of the challenges for sustainable tourism, and provides tips for becoming a more mindful traveler.Richard is passionate about the health of our planet and helps us highlight the importance of conservation, sustainable travel and eco-tourism and inspires our actions through environmental stewardship.In his television show, Richard travels the world unearthing extraordinary eco-friendly tourism destinations, giving us unprecedented insiders access to places and experiences that are on everyone's bucket list. Today, more than ever, travelers need resources and solutions to become more mindful when visiting destinations. Richard shares stories and experiences from the locations he visits and shows us why it's important to get to know the people and listen. And he provides tips to make your travel experiences easier and less stressful! Thanks f