Your Friend on the Ground

Kim Elwell is a partner of The James Collective, the publicity agency for some of Napa’s top wineries. We talk about Bottlerock vs. Coachella, “the Napa Valley chic farmhouse vibe,” Napa vs. Sonoma, where to go after 10 p.m., bringing wine to a wine region, the boxed wine renaissance, Napa fashion, “at the end of the day, it’s farming,” and more. Follow Kim 🌍 https://www.instagram.com/kimmyelwell...

Wilhemina aka Billie is the founder of Sprezzatura, a travel agency. We talk about handsome, rugged fishermen, selling a feeling, finding everything difficult, “a deep seated love for five stars and donkeys,” getting on the tourist train, “budgie smugglers,” looking like a baked handbag by September, and more. Follow Billie 🌍 https://www.instagram.com/sprezzatura.world/ https://www.sprezzatura.wo...

Sarissa Thrower is the senior director of communications at Matter of Fact. We talk about entering your live laugh love era, a wellness retreat gone horribly wrong, monkey gangs, falling lizards, being uncomfortable the whole time you’re there, live black ants in the bed, booking a night at the Marriott, feeling like an entitled American, the particular taste of TripAdvisor, and more. Follow Saris...

Mary Celeste Beall is the proprietor of Blackberry Farm and Blackberry Mountain. We talk about golf cart rides, soundbaths, dressing for the photo opp, meditation, "leave your heels at home," wine on the flight, focusing on where you are, and more. Follow Mary Celeste 🌍 ⁠https://www.instagram.com/marycelestebf/⁠ https://www.instagram.com/blackberryfarm/ https://www.blackberryfarm.com/ F...

Aishwarya Iyer is the founder of Brightland and the host of the podcast Recent Eats. We talk about the golden glow of an evening, electromagnetic vortexes, the American Riviera, Meghan Markle, a hostess gift for Oprah, "tasting heaven," skin contact orange, Rosewood Miramar vs. San Ysidro Ranch, "a time and a place for being flashy," and more. Follow Aishwarya 🌍 ⁠https://www.i...

Bilal El Hammoumy is the founder of the luxury travel agency Inclusive Morocco. We talk about oyster city, "music that connects you to the divine," baby SoHo, hash, bargaining 101, H.N.W.s, Salma Hayek, almonds from the Atlas mountains, La Mamounia vs. Royal Mansour, breakfast in a balloon, and more. Follow Bilal 🌍 https://www.instagram.com/bilal.elhammoumy/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/...

Aparna Shewakramani is a star of the Netflix series Indian Matchmaking and the bestselling author of She's Unlikeable: And Other Lies That Bring Women Down. We talk about Portugal, past lives, pit stops, beaches of rocks, resorts with apostrophes, vedic astrology, the "Tulum of India," sleeping on your tray table, and more. Follow Aparna 🌍 https://www.instagram.com/aparnashewakraman...

Alexander Ali is the founder and CEO of The Society Group, a publicity firm for luxury real estate. We talk about Careyes, a design community on Mexico's Pacific Coast, Richard Gere, Ondalinda, the party versus the after party, sensual lighting, gong sound baths, "DL Bougie" a trip versus a vacation, Mike Tyson's coffee shop, "there's no sugar like American sugar," palapa problems, and more. Follo...

Ben Kephart is the general manager of the Ojai Valley Inn. We talk about authenticity, resplendent raw bars, the Ojai Food + Wine festival, "talk me out of what I ordered," AirPods, fiercely protective locals, facials vs. massages, expired passports, and more. Follow Ben 🌍 https://www.instagram.com/ben.kephart/ https://linkin.bio/ojaivalleyinn https://www.instagram.com/ojaivalleyinn/ ht...

Tasos Pavlidis is the founder of the concierge service Mykonos & More. We talk about Mykonos standard time, this summer’s best beach clubs and places to stay, trust issues, young people dancing, control freaks, lunch at 7 p.m., cats versus super cats, and more. Follow Tasos 🌍 https://www.instagram.com/tasospavlidis/ https://www.instagram.com/mykonosandmore/ https://mykonosandmore.reserve-onli...

Amanda Montell is the bestselling author of Cultish and Wordslut ; her third book, The Age of Magical Overthinking , is coming soon. We talk about Bologna, "earning lunch," travel journaling, Puritanical shame, portico tattoos, Americanos, aperitivo as a religion, "shroomy" epiphanies, ragu, bathing in Lambrusco, Bologna's version of the Soho House, and more. Follow Amanda...

Sheila Yasmin Marikar is an author, journalist, and the host of Your Friend on the Ground. She talks about what you can expect from this podcast and the five things she never travels without. Follow us ✈️ https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendontheground/ https://www.instagram.com/sheilaym/

Why is Sheila launching this podcast? Let her explain. Follow us at @yourfriendontheground and @sheilaym to see what's coming!