Speaking of Travel® With Marilyn Ball

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...

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 O...

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,...

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 mo...

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...

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...

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 b...

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 conn...

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 sh...

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, mutu...

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 y...

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 inter...

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 str...

Travel is often pictured as excitement, new sights, and adventure. But for many, it can feel overwhelming, exhausting, or even impossible before a trip begins. For individuals navigating ADHD, anxiety, autism, or learning differences, the unfamiliar sounds, routines, and expectations of travel can make even the simplest journey feel heavy.  And yet, these truths are rarely spoken with honesty, emp...

On this powerful episode of Speaking of Travel , we welcome Christopher Hill, founder of Hands Up Holidays and Impact Destinations , two visionary luxury travel companies transforming the way we explore the world and our place within it. This conversation goes beyond destinations and indulgence, shining a light on what’s possible when travel is rooted in purpose, connection, and responsibility. Jo...

Elizabeth Birkelund is not just a novelist and journalist. She’s a traveler of landscapes, both worldly and emotional, and a gifted listener to the human heart. Her newest book, A Northern Light in Provence , sweeps us from the crystalline silence of Greenland’s ice fields to the golden, lavender-scented slopes of Provence.  With her unmistakable tenderness and immersive storytelling, she reminds...

Jonny Wright isn’t your typical wanderer. He didn’t torch his old life or sprint toward the horizon in a fit of cinematic rebellion. No doors were slammed. No bridges were burned. Just one quiet, existential moment staring at the ceiling thinking, “Is this it? Seriously? This… can’t be it.” That tiny question sparked a very un-tiny adventure. Jonny packed a bag, stuck out a thumb, and stepped into...

In a special return episode, we explore a journey of resilience, reinvention, and rediscovering joy.  Abigail Carter , a gifted writer and artist, faced unimaginable loss when she lost her husband in the 9/11 tragedy. For years, grief shaped her days but eventually a quiet inner voice whispered: It’s time to go.   Following that calling, Abigail left the familiar behind and settled in a charming c...

Strap in—slowly—and lift off into a sky full of wonder. In this magical episode of Speaking of Travel , beloved writer and adventurer Peter Egan returns to share the extraordinary tale of the 7,000-mile journey he and his wife Barbara made in 1987… at the dreamy, unhurried pace of 70 miles per hour. Aboard their vintage Piper Cub, carrying just 20 pounds of luggage and an open-ended sense of curio...

In this episode of Speaking of Travel, brace yourself for a high-voltage deep dive into reinvention, resilience, and the raw power of storytelling. We’re joined by Peter Murphy Lewis , a global entrepreneur, magnetic storyteller, and creative catalyst who has built brands on multiple continents, led teams through chaos, and transformed collapse into pure momentum. From building businesses across S...

Our well-being is the foundation of everything. It's the quiet thread that weaves through our lives, shaping how we move through the world and how we connect with others. And how we care for ourselves. Yet, somewhere along the way, we can lose sight of that simple truth. Life gets busy and we forget the importance of slowing down long enough to listen to what our hearts are trying to tell us....

Practical travel gear isn’t just stuff in a bag but really is peace of mind. It’s survival, resilience, and the quiet confidence of knowing, “I’ve got this,” whether you’re exploring the far corners of the globe or facing a disaster right at home. In a world where unexpected events can strike at any moment, being prepared isn’t just practical, it’s empowering.  In this episode of Speaking of Trave...

Speaking of Travel welcomes Leigh Barnes, the new President of the Americas for Intrepid Travel , a certified B Corp travel company on a mission to make travel a force for good. Leigh leads Intrepid’s fastest-growing U.S. market, bringing curiosity, compassion, and care for the planet to every adventure.  Leigh shares how his love of adventure shaped his career and leadership style and why respons...

For over a decade, Speaking of Travel has been the place where we explore the heart of travel, connection, and community. And now we’re heading to the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago to uncover how adventure, comfort, and sustainability can come together to create truly meaningful journeys.  Our guest, John Hadad, Group Co-CEO and Co-Founder of HADCO Group, is leading a movement through...

Airports are more than gateways and more like the heartbeats of their communities. In this episode of Speaking of Travel , discover how the Asheville Regional Airport ( AVL ) is redefining what it means to connect people, place, and purpose.  With air travel soaring, AVL’s bold AVL Forward project is transforming the airport experience, more than doubling its space, introducing a fresh, modern des...