Speaking of Travel® With Marilyn Ball

Justin Belleme , owner and founder of JB Media Group and publisher of Romantic Asheville , shares how working with local entrepreneurs in the community and supporting organizations he believes in helps them achieve their vision. Justin is a travel industry leader and provides strategic direction and expertise in the travel and tourism industry, and is an advocate for sustainable growth and fairnes...

Did you know middle school students who explored nature and took part in outdoor activities like climbing, canoeing, skiing and hiking, displayed improvements in social skills, resilience, and creativity? Situated on the banks of the French Broad River in Asheville, NC, is a school that provides middle-schoolers with an educational experience that is academically rigorous, outdoor-centric, and ven...

Speaking of Travel continues the LEAF Global Arts Series with LEAF Co-Executive Director Erinn Hartley. Erinn shares how her unique LEAF journey began and how she arrived where she is today within the organization. LEAF Global Arts plays a significant role in fostering a sense of community and cultural identity and Erinn shares how over the years LEAF Global Arts has provided opportunities for peo...

Poet Glenis Redmond has learned to receive beauty without hesitation. Being diagnosed with cancer and amid COVID, she came up with the idea to visit South Carolina's State Parks with her grandson as a life-affirming way for them both to share this poetic journey. Her new book, “The Song of Everything: A Poet's Exploration of South Carolina State Parks,” is a pocket-sized collection of po...

Afro-Latino Travels with Kim Haas is the groundbreaking television series dedicated to uncovering the vibrant Afro-Latino culture across Latin America. Host, founder, and executive producer, Kim Haas , shares how her series allow viewers to discover a smaller group within the Black community. Kim explains how showcasing  Afro-Latino communities throughout Latin America, with their rich and diverse...

The Speaking of Travel And Leave No Trace TV series continues with host Richard Crawford , our ambassador to the bigger world. Ricky shares where to watch Season One of Leave No Trace TV and gives an update on Season Two and when the first episodes will be coming out.  Also, Ricky highlights inspiring stories from around the world where good things are happening in and around sustainable and eco-t...

Author Charlie Birney , Chief Listening Officer at his company, Podville Media in Washington, DC, wrote his new book The Tao of Podcasting: An Interpretation of the Tao Te Ching, as a meditation on the purpose of podcasting. Charlie shares how the book serves as a guide to growth and transformation that can be directly applicable to podcasting. Written in lovely verse and illustrated by Charlie&ap...

Sustainable Chef William Dissen , owner of The Market Place Restaurant in Asheville, NC, shares how his passion for building sustainable food systems, his love of hospitality, and serving in the American Chef Corps for the US State Department, has taken him around the world to promote American food culture and sustainability practices. The Market Place Restaurant , Asheville’s original farm-to-tab...

There are many reasons to study abroad. At UNC Asheville , Laura Dobson, Director of the Study Abroad program , along with Study Aboard faculty member Anne Slatton, and Study Abroad students, Emma and Adrien, shares the importance, and benefits, of study abroad opportunities. Discover how UNCA diversifies participation in the Study Abroad program by making sure students realize there is a right st...

Charlie Thomas is an artist and environmentalist based on Waiheke Island, New Zealand. With a strong connection to the ocean and all its inhabitants, Charlie shares how his passion is creating a life of stewardship, leadership, and traveling. Charlie spent his summer holidays on Great Barrier Island and has worked full-time in wildlife conservation since leaving high school when he was only 16. He...

Author and travel professional Nina Zapala shares why she is dedicated to helping people create a personalized, transformative roadmap for self-discovery. Her trailblazing personality paradigm encourages self-awareness through spiritually focused typing. Nina's typology is the keystone of her debut book, “Unpack Your Personality: Let Your Inner Guide Be Your Travel Guide.” Andy McNeill, CEO o...

Sarah Benoit is a digital marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and educator. She is also the co-founder and acting lead instructor of the JB Media Institute . And she is a passionate traveler. Sarah shares how traveling can be a way to deepen your intimacy, connection, and understanding of the people you love. And she explains why sometimes she travels for adventure, but most of the time she choose...

Margaret Roach and Ken Druse are gardeners and writers offering up online courses on all things gardening. Margaret and Ken share how The Virtual Garden Club began and how they put together these programs to provide advice, encouragement, and camaraderie, along with answers to your gardening questions!  Margaret is a longtime garden writer and  created a website, podcast, and weekly newsletter cal...

In 1995, LEAF Global Arts began as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Their mission...  to connect cultures and create community through music, arts education, and experiences, and to cultivate curiosity, preserve cultures and promote global understanding. An organization like LEAF plays a significant role in fostering a sense of community and cultural identity. Over the years, LEAF has become a...

I recently read a study showing how researchers have found that when we look at maps, our brains are activated in different ways, creating this unique and enjoyable experience. Enter the future. Today, there are ways to look and interact with maps we could never have dreamed of even just a few years back. AJ Brau is CEO of Wandermap , a map solution where you can explore every nook and cranny of y...

I’ve had some amazing travel experiences when I was sharing those experiences with others on the trip. Traveling with other people provides opportunities to try new things and even increases courage when there are other people around encouraging you to try something new and jump into that opportunity. Matthew Kent is the founder of Kent World Travel . With his career in professional golf across So...

The Speaking of Travel And Leave No Trace TV series continues with host Richard Crawford. Richard talks to us while in Australia editing the epic Season Two of the popular Leave No Trace TV show with producer and cameraman, Ben Alcott. Ricky and Ben share updates and tell us about their day-to-day progress and how they go about editing the show. And all the places we can watch Leave No Trace TV. A...

Liza Rutledge is the owner of Happy Hiking Company , specializing in leading captivating overnight guided backpacking tours across the stunning landscapes of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Liza shares the benefits of a guided trip over a non-guided trip and why these experiences in nature are beneficial to your mental and physical health, builds outdoor skill sets, and is a great means of meeting new p...

LoAnn Halden (she/her) is the VP of Communications for the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, IGLTA. Their mission is to provide information and resources for LGBTQ+ travelers and expand LGBTQ+ tourism globally. IGLTA, the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association , was founded in 1983 and is the world's leading network of LGBTQ+-welcoming tourism businesses. They provide free travel reso...

Ariel Haas and Jason Moon, business partners at Glassy Stays , Asheville, NC's exclusive glass mirror house, share the benefits of staying at an eco-conscious accommodation for a vacation in the heart of the forest. Today, the old-school, off-grid lifestyle is not as attractive as it once was, except maybe for those who like the camping lifestyle. Now it’s more about a luxury off-grid lifesty...

Travel the world with LEAF Global Arts . Their mission is to connect cultures and create community through world music, arts education, preservation, and experiences. Join Chinobay , LEAF Global Arts Chairman of the Board of Directors and a catalyst for positive change through his multifaceted journey beginning in Uganda, and Ryan "RnB" Barber, LEAF’s Spark the Arts artist-in-residence f...

Ever wonder why it feels so great to be out in nature? Amanda Baker, Partner Marketing Manager with Visit North Carolina and oversees North Carolina’s Outdoor NC initiative , and Clark Lovelace, Executive Director of the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority, share how the love for the outdoors makes us feel happy, inspired, and excited to explore more. And why it's important to t...

Omi Salevea of the McDowell County Tourism Development Authority in the Blue Ridge Mountains, shares why outdoor recreation is important in preserving natural landscapes and for protecting culture and heritage. And why it's good for your body too! One of my favorite places to get outdoors is in Old Fort, a small town not far from Asheville in McDowell County , NC. It's a mountain town in...

Enock Glidden is an accomplished outdoorsman and is found adventuring every season of the year. Born with Spina Bifida, Enock has learned to do things differently than others and shares how attitude is everything. Also on Speaking of Travel, discover why collaboration and meaningful relationships provide a framework for inspiration. Guest Mark Collins, Partnerships Manager for RomanticAsheville.co...

The Speaking of Travel And Leave No Trace TV Series with Richard Crawford, host of the popular TV series , Leave No Trace , continues with new stories and tips to help change your life for the better and see sights so rich in wonder they will take your breath away. In this, the first episode of the new year, discover Ricky's backstory...  How does a small boy from Paisley, Scotland, end up tr...