On this episode of Speaking of Travel, meet Cory Lawrence, President and CEO of Off the Beaten Path. Based in Bozeman, Montana, his company has spent decades creating journeys for curious travelers seeking something deeper than the usual itinerary.

Cory embodies the spirit of Montana and this special part of the world where a love of adventure goes hand in hand with a deep respect for the land and a genuine connection to people. 

His approach to travel invites us to look beyond the beautiful scenery and ask what it really means to experience somewhere a...

The most meaningful legacy we leave the next generation is found in the compassion we share and the difference we make in the lives of others. 

Travel can change the way we see the world. But sometimes the most extraordinary journeys are about the people we meet and the understanding that grows when we make room for someone else's world.

On this very special episode of Speaking of Travel, meet Kimberly Haley-Coleman, Founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware, a nonprofit creating meaningful, community-led volunteer travel experiences since 2000.

Kimberly has spent decades helping t...

I've always been fascinated by science. Perhaps because the more we understand about our planet, the more we realize how much there is still to discover. And volcanoes? Well, they are something else entirely. Imagine the incredible forces moving beneath our feet, shaping the very world we call home.

My conversation with Dr. Tamie Jovanelly (Dr. Jo) takes us into that fascinating world, but it also takes us somewhere much more personal.

A geologist, professor, international researcher and author, Dr. Jo made a remarkable decision to leave the security of tenure and embrace a completely...

Every once in a while, you meet someone whose way of seeing the world makes you stop and look at your own world a little differently.

That was my experience with photographer Cade Martin.

I am honestly in awe of the way Cade sees people, places and the unexpected moments that most of us might walk right past. His photographs don't feel posed or manufactured. They feel alive. They pull you into a moment and make you wonder what happened just before and what happened after.

Cade has spent his life chasing characters...

I loved this conversation.

Nancy Shear is one of those people you meet and immediately want to know more about. She is smart, funny, curious, completely engaging, and she has lived an extraordinary life surrounded by some of the greatest musicians of the twentieth century.

Her story began when she was just fifteen years old when curiosity led her through a stage door and into the world of classical music. What happened after that is an incredible journey.

Nancy spent decades behind the scenes, getting to know the people behind the music, their...

There’s a new idea taking shape around the way we experience places and it’s called Scenic Travel Moments.

Justin Belleme, Publisher and Partnerships Manager at RomanticAsheville.com, joins Speaking of Travel to talk about where the idea came from and why he believes there is an opportunity to create something different for travelers.

Scenic Travel Moments begins in Western North Carolina with extraordinary landscapes and some wonderfully unexpected places to stay. But the idea isn’t simply about finding another place to visit. The conversation takes us into the importance of community and the gr...

You got what you wanted. Now what?

It seems like we spend so much of our lives moving toward what’s next, always looking ahead to where we’re going and what we’re supposed to accomplish along the way. We work toward the goal, reach the milestone, check the box, and then one day, sometimes, we actually get there.

And what happens then?

For Michael Yang, that question opened the door to a whole new chapter.

He came to America from South Korea as a teenager, built a successful technology compan...

There are fascinating stories all around us and many are in places we least expect to find them.

On this episode of Speaking of Travel, I’m joined by award-winning travel journalist and National Geographic contributor Ronan O’Connell, author of Hidden in Plain Sight. Ronan takes us beyond the postcard view to uncover the forgotten stories, mysteries, history, and human experiences hidden within some of the world’s most iconic places.

Our conversation becomes a deeper exploration of curiosity and what happens when we slow down enough to really see what’s around us. Ronan is...

Twenty-five years after September 11, 2001, we continue to remember the lives that were lost and the lives forever changed by that day.

And that's why I’m revisiting a very special conversation with Abigail Carter, a gifted writer and artist whose husband was killed in the 9/11 tragedy.

For years, grief became part of the landscape of Abigail’s life. But eventually, something inside her began to whisper that it was time to go. Not to forget. Not to leave the past behind. But to find a way forward.

That journey led her to a chât...

Sometimes the life we imagine for ourselves begins with something very simple, like taking that first step.

Sarah Aviram didn't stumble into a year of travel. She created it. She made the bold decision to leave behind the familiar and designed a plan to travel through 12 countries in 12 months while continuing to work remotely. And she trusted herself enough to make it happen.

In this episode of Speaking of Travel, Sarah shares the remarkable story behind her upcoming memoir, The Scenic Route: Following My Inner Compass Across 12 Countries in 12 Months. Along the way, she immersed...

Some places capture your imagination. Italy captures your heart. If you've ever dreamed of experiencing Italy beyond the guidebooks, this is the journey you've been waiting for.

Join Becky and Marcello Simone of Viaggi Italiani, together with Anne Robichaud, your expert guide to the hidden treasures of Umbria, on an unforgettable 10-day Fall 2026 Small Group Art & Cultural Tour through the heart of Italy. Carefully designed for travelers who value authentic experiences, meaningful connections, and the joy of slowing down, this experience is an invitation to experience Italy as a welcomed guest. 

You'll e...

Michael Cowan has lived many lives.

He's been an attorney, educator, businessman, musician, songwriter, and now, an author. His debut novel, John B. Peoples, is proof that some of life's most meaningful adventures begin long after we think we've settled into who we are.

In this episode of Speaking of Travel, Michael shares what inspired him to finally write the novel that had been quietly waiting inside him, why France, and especially Paris and Marseille, became such important settings, and how travel has shaped both his storytelling and his perspective on life.

Together...

Travel has a way of changing how we see the world. And perhaps that’s where the possibility of changing it begins.

On this episode of Speaking of Travel, join Jared Sternberg, founder and CEO of Gondwana Ecotours, for a thoughtful conversation about what it really means to travel with purpose. Jared shares how an unexpected journey took him from law school and backpacking adventures to building an international ecotourism company, challenging the idea that travel is simply about seeing new places.

Together we explore how every trip we take leaves an impact and why th...

Some conversations feel like catching up with an old friend. And that's exactly what it was like welcoming Katie Cole back to Speaking of Travel. 

Katie is not only a remarkable singer-songwriter, she's one of the kindest, most genuine people you'll ever meet. From her years touring with the Smashing Pumpkins to performing the iconic music of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit before audiences around the world, she's inspired countless people through both her extraordinary talent and her generous spirit.

In this episode, Katie shares the deeply personal journey behind her upcoming a...

The world teaches us how to move forward, but it rarely teaches us how to heal. But healing may be one of the most courageous adventures we ever undertake.

On this deeply human episode of Speaking of Travel, meet Anthony Dyer, whose extraordinary journey from military service to healing is a powerful reminder that our most important journeys are often the ones no one else can see.

Originally from Sylva, North Carolina, Anthony spent more than a decade flying high-risk missions around the world, where split-second decisions could mean the difference between life and death. 

What happens when a love of food becomes a passport to the world? On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we're joined by Liisa Andreassen and John Godts, the husband-and-wife team behind Cottage Cooking, whose adventures have taken them across six continents and more than 40 countries.

What began as a creative way to fund their travels has evolved into a meaningful journey centered on food, storytelling, cultural exchange, and human connection. John and Liisa have discovered that food is one of the world's most universal languages.

In this conversation, we explore how travel has expanded...

Some journeys change the way we see the world. On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we're setting sail along the coast of Maine with Justin Schaefer and Jocelyn Schmidt, owners and captains of the historic Schooner J. & E. Riggin.

Together they've created an experience where the wind sets the pace and the sea shapes each day. And how the simple moments become the memories that stay with us long after the journey ends.

As proud members of the Maine Windjammer Association, Justin and Jocelyn are helping preserve a treasured maritime tradition while inviting travelers...

We spend so much of our lives trying to get somewhere, we sometimes forget to simply be where we are.

In a world that constantly urges us to move faster, do more, and keep up, this conversation with Ryan Enslin offers a different perspective. A gentler one.

As a journalist and photographer from Johannesburg, South Africa, Ryan has learned that some places seem to exist outside the pace of modern life. One of those places is St Helena Island, a remote island in the South Atlantic that has profoundly shaped the way he thinks about...

The places that stay with us aren’t always the ones that demand our attention. Sometimes, their impact is much quieter.

You arrive carrying noise, deadlines, distractions and the weight of everyday life. And then somewhere between the trees, the silence, the air itself, something begins to soften. You remember there is another way to live in the world. More connected. More awake. More human.

This episode of Speaking of Travel lives inside that feeling.

What unfolds here is more than a discussion about nature or stewardship. It is a reflection on presence, on...

The most memorable conversations often have less to do with accomplishments and more to do with the journey behind them.

Internationally acclaimed bassoonist Frank Morelli is both. His story is about far more than music. It’s about what happens when a lifetime of dedication shapes not only an artist, but a human being.

There’s something deeply moving about a person who spends a lifetime devoted to music and still meets the world with humility and a genuine sense of wonder. In this heartfelt episode of Speaking of Travel, Frank reflects on the deeper jour...

There’s something deeper unfolding at the Asheville Regional Airport and you can feel it the moment you step into this conversation with Angi Daus, VP of Air Service and Corporate Communications.

This isn’t surface-level support. It’s a lived commitment to Western North Carolina, shaped through real relationships and a genuine presence in the community that shows up in how they collaborate and how they listen. And how they continue to grow alongside the people and businesses around them.

As the airport continues through a major expansion and transformation, Angi shares how every step f...

Travel has a way of catching us by surprise. A beautiful view may stop us for a moment, but it’s often the feeling we carry home that stays with us.

On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we step into that space where travel stops being about the plan and becomes a way of seeing and living. It becomes a way of loving the world with more courage and intention.

Tenon Tours founder Bryan Lewis understands that shift in a deeply personal way. His story didn’t start with meaning but rather with movement. Coll...

On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we move beyond destinations and into something deeply human... food as a living expression of memory, identity, and belonging. Chef Nathan Davis shares his story shaped by the land, where hunting, fishing, and foraging were not choices, but teachings guiding him to understand food as relationship, responsibility, and respect.

With formal training from Le Cordon Bleu, Nathan learned the language of technique. But it is his return to Indigenous foodways that gives his work meaning. His journey is one of integration, where tradition and innovation don’t compete, but inform on...

In a time shaped by rapid change and constant headlines, this conversation invites us to pause, to listen, and to look beyond perception into lived experience.

My guest, Rihab Abouzaki, is an advertising strategist and Director of This N That Communications. She works at the intersection of culture, business, and global storytelling. Moving between the United States and the Gulf region, she brings a perspective rooted not just in strategy, but in humanity.

Together we explore the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), made up of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman, a...

There’s something quietly extraordinary unfolding in Italy, inside museums, churches, and hidden archives where history has long rested in silence.

For centuries, luminous works of art created by women were tucked away, overlooked, or forgotten. Not because they lacked brilliance, but because their stories were never fully told. And still, they remained, waiting, holding their place in time.

Today, that silence is beginning to lift.

In this episode of Speaking of Travel, we’re joined by Jane Adams, co-founder and CEO of Artemisia Gold, and Susan Glimcher, whose work is helping to gent...

Sometimes it’s not one big moment that shapes us, but a series of experiences that quietly stay, like traveling far from home at a young age, listening to stories passed down at the kitchen table, beginning to understand that where we come from carries more meaning over time.

In this episode, I’m joined by Yoon Kim, a journalist, storyteller, and event producer whose work is grounded in curiosity and connection. His path has taken him across cultures and continents, but what stands out most is how he listens for the nuance, the history, and the huma...

Some journeys don’t begin with a plan. Some just begin with a song, a street corner, a moment that simply says go.

In this episode of Speaking of Travel, Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show, shares a life shaped by following the music and trusting where it leads. What stays with you isn’t just the story of the road. It's more the way he moves through the world.

From busking days to the guidance of Doc Watson and the deep roots of MerleFest, this conversation opens into something more personal. Ketch speaks to h...

What if the way we travel could actually help restore the planet instead of slowly wearing it down? On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we explore how every choice we make, where we go, how we move, where we stay, and how we show up, creates a lasting impact. Travel today is no longer just about seeing the world. Each of us has a responsibility to care for it and protect it. And we must become more conscious of the footprint we leave behind.

Join me in welcoming back Richard Crawford (Ricky), creator of Leave No...

Today’s Speaking of Travel episode is a heartfelt reminder that the spirit of travel doesn’t fade, but rather deepens, shifting, growing, and finding new meaning with every chapter. 

Cary Lowe and his wife Trish share the remarkable story of a life shaped by exploration, where each journey has strengthened their bond and expanded their connection to the world, as beautifully captured in his book On Two Legs and Three Wheels.

What began as a kindred love of adventure grew into something far more meaningful over time, a beautiful testament to what’s possible when yo...

Welcome to the island of Madagascar, a place that feels both distant and deeply connected to the rest of the world. Through the lens of food, culture, and community, guest Emmanuel Laroche invites us to look beyond familiar ingredients and discover the stories, people, and landscapes that shape them. Born in France and now based in New Jersey, he has spent years exploring the world through taste, reminding us that every dish carries a history, and every ingredient holds a human story.

In his newest book, A Taste of Madagascar, Emmanuel explores the island’s remarkable food tr...

In a world that rarely pauses, this episode of Speaking of Travel is an invitation to breathe. To slow down. To remember that wonder still lives just outside our door and within our own hearts.

Meet Sue Wasserman, Travel and Tourism Director for Explore Burnsville, NC, a writer, nature photographer, devoted critter sitter, and a self-described general meanderer who knows how to pause for life’s most beautiful moments.

Sue’s life has been shaped by the rhythms and quiet wisdom of Southern Appalachia, the hush of forest trails, the courage of wildflowers blooming in unli...

What if the greatest stories on Earth aren’t written in the sky but carved in stone beneath our feet? On this illuminating episode of Speaking of Travel, we shine a light on the extraordinary underground ecosystems that hold the living history of our planet.

My guest is David Foster, President and CEO of the American Cave Conservation Association and steward of Hidden River Cave in Kentucky.

Once considered one of the most polluted caves in the United States, Hidden River Cave is now a powerful symbol of restoration and hope. More than 40 years of sc...

Travel has a way of waking us up and inviting us to slow down, breathe more deeply, and reconnect with what truly makes us feel alive. In this episode of Speaking of Travel, we welcome Nancy De Losa, Co-Founder of A’qto Italian Cycling Tours, whose work beautifully blends cycling, culture, community, and mindful travel across Italy.

Nancy shares how exploring Italy by bike becomes far more than a physical experience. Moving through landscapes at a human pace encourages presence, clarity, and a powerful mind-body connection, while the gentle rhythm of the journey naturally reduces st...

What if listening deeply could carry us across centuries?

In this Speaking of Travel episode, cellist Louise Dubin invites us into a world where travel, music, and historical discovery intertwine, reminding us that the most meaningful journeys reconnect us with voices nearly forgotten. Performing across solo, chamber, orchestral, and Broadway stages, including Radio City, Louise brings audiences beyond the concert hall, uncovering hidden musical treasures and restoring them to life with remarkable care and passion.

Her recordings, including The Franchomme Project and Passages, grew from years of research and travel, especially in France, where she...

Some people take trips. Evlyn Mondo built an entirely new life through travel.

Her journey from science labs and academic classrooms in Quebec to leading a luxury villa in Barbados is a story of reinvention guided by courage, intuition, and heart. As CEO and Managing Director of Villa Casablanca at Sandy Lane, Evlyn is redefining what luxury truly means by shifting the focus from opulence to connection, sustainability, and experiences that stay with people long after they return home.

Drawing from her perspective as both traveler and host, Evlyn curates stays that feel...

We often think of travel as moving across maps with new cities, new landscapes, new horizons. But the most profound journeys happen in ways you cannot trace on a globe. They happen through music. Through sound. Through the stories hidden in every note.

Pianist Terry Eder lives life and art emboding this idea. Her performances have taken her from Carnegie Hall to Alice Tully Hall and beyond, but she doesn’t just play music, she inhabits it. Every piece she touches carries history, culture, memory, and emotion. Her devotion to Hungarian twentieth-century composers even led her to li...

Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) stands out because it understands its role as more than a transportation hub and more like an active member of the Western North Carolina community it serves. AVL is intentionally doing the work to ensure that its customers are, quite literally, served by their neighbors. 

The team at AVL operates as a community within a community, grounded in shared purpose, mutual respect, and a deep understanding of place. This commitment shows up in how service is delivered: thoughtful, steady, and human. It’s customer service is designed to reflect local values while meeting the...

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 o...

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 acc...

This episode of Speaking of Travel opens the door to a new year with intention, warmth, and deep joy as we welcome the extraordinary David LaMotte, songwriter, speaker, peace builder, author, and quiet force for good in the world.

Being with David feels like stepping onto a peaceful back porch at sunrise, shoulders soften, the air feels clearer, and you’re reminded that kindness still has a strong pulse in the world. His life’s work spans five continents and more than three decades of music, storytelling, and peace building, yet he carries his experiences with humility, humor...