Speaking of Travel® With Marilyn Ball

Pico Iyer helps bring an understanding of cultural differences to all of us by interacting with people whose culture, experiences, or worldview might differ from his own.  For over four decades, he’s written 16 books, translated into 23 languages, on subjects ranging from the Dalai Lama to globalism, from the Cuban Revolution to Islamic mysticism. For Pico, travel is a professional devotion as muc...

Australian born singer-songwriter and touring musician with the Smashing Pumpkins, Katie Cole, shares how her emotional honesty comes from a place of determination and persistence.  Katie is releasing her new EP, “Rivers & Roads," a love project created during the pandemic and will launch the final single along with a music video.  In 2022, Katie did a 32-date tour with the Smashing Pumpk...

Jovelle Fernandez knows how it feels to be a fish out of water having navigated through various constraints because of being alienated. She helps us learn and understand about being away from our comfort zones. Jovelle's story includes the unique experiences of a former woman expatriate and the challenges of living and working as a foreigner in academia, in a male-dominated society, and in th...

Richard Crawford, host of the popular TV show, Leave No Trace TV, and his producer/cameraman, Ben Alcott, recently went to Antarctica to experience the incredible beauty and solitude as polar explorers.  When the two returned from White Desert Antarctica's Echo camp, a pioneering luxury experience, their lives were changed. In episode one of their Great Antarctica Adventure, heard only on Spe...

What do you do when a friend asks you to pack your things and take a trip ASAP? For Terri Lynn Queen, you just say YES! Find out how a quick, spontaneous trip to Las Vegas became a most memorable adventure.  Terri Lynn is a regional/national media consultant with iHeart Media (for 33 years!) who loves to travel. She shares stories of how traveling with her children when they were young created a s...

If you love being out in nature enjoying beautiful, breathtaking views, you’ll love cycling. Cyclists are generally a friendly group of people and riding bikes can be an excellent way to make new friends and create community.  Rob Dull is an avid cyclist and the principal planner at Find The Line Studios based out of Asheville, NC. Rob heads up the firm's master planning efforts around commun...

Nancy Stohlman is a flash fiction writer, a performer, and a professor. She holds workshops and retreats around the world to help you learn about yourself as a writer and a person. Nancy provides professional and aspiring writers the gift of time, a new community, instruction, and the opportunity to reconnect with your own imagination and sense of possibility so you can confidently bring the work...

The Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford, host of the popular TV series, Leave No Trace TV, highlights the importance of conservation, sustainable travel and eco-tourism, and provides tips on how to travel mindfully and why it's important to just say YES! There is no other destination on the planet more incredible, overwhelming or epic as Antarctica. Ricky and his...

Vincenzo Lodato is a true Renaissance gentleman and skilled at all things he attempts to do. Vincenzo has wide-ranging knowledge in many fields and loves life.  Now living in Florence, Italy, Vincenzo shares why being a huge dreamer and putting yourself out there, past your comfort zone, is the best way to live life to the fullest.  And Vincenzo provides hands-on tips for even considering a move t...

Noted motorcycle journalist Neale Bayly had two goals when he went off to Ukraine to bring attention to what journalists are experiencing in this war-torn country and to give victims of the war in Ukraine the chance to tell their stories. He hoped to somehow ease their burden by providing an opportunity to tell their stories. Neale recently returned from a three-week, 6,600-km (approx. 4,100 miles...

Don Bunnell is a serial entrepreneur passionate about the environment and he is the founder of Swank Guide, a travel platform that helps people uncover exotic destinations, unique lodging, and insider activities. Don shares how and why he created Swank Guide and how his background in travel, the environment, energy policy, design, and architecture brought him to the intersection of all those thing...

Michael Juergens is a courageous serial entrepreneur and certified sommelier. As the founder of the Bhutan Wine Company, he is leading the development of the wine industry in the magical Himalayan country. Michael is an adventure race addict who optimized the runners mindset in all areas of his life. He's a sought-after speaker and author and owns the award-winning SoCal Rum company.  Add to...

Dee Flower made her dreams come true over her life. Her book, "Where The Wind Wills," tells her story of visiting over 40 countries on six continents and embracing cultural differences while seeing all humanity as one tribe. Dee shares why it's never too late to live the life you have dreamed about and how patience is the solid force necessary for waiting for the opportunities to sh...

Spanish-born Jambo Naphula is a traveling artist and troubadour who goes around the world performing and making music and art to make people happy.   Jambo shares why his love of travel and performing brings him much joy and why his belief that travel facilitates understanding between people of different racial, cultural or national origin promotes world-peace.  Discover why Jambo is passionate ab...

The Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford, host of the popular TV series, Leave No Trace, continues. Ricky shares some exciting upcoming news on a huge adventure he's embarking on that will push his boundaries and even take him out of his comfort zone. He's off to Antarctica, a bucket list destination! Discover how Ricky stays inspired to put his dreams and pla...

With long-lasting traditions of winemaking, culinary delights, awe-inspiring landscapes, and certified organic wineries, Tuscany is a shining star. Mary Shea is the Director of Marketing and Hospitality at the organic winery and agriturismo, Querceto di Castellina, in the Tuscan region of Chianti.  Mary shares how this handcrafted, sustainable winery began in 1998 and how they are intensely focuse...

This year marks a milestone for Speaking of Travel... 10 years! And more good news... While people are totally wired to visuals, the podcast industry just continues to grow over the years.  Adam Stoker, President and CEO of Relic, host of the Destination Marketing Podcast, and founder of the Destination Marketing Podcast Network, explains how to use the destination’s resources to plan your trip. ...

HATCH founder Yarrow Kraner is a pioneer of social networking and a creative alchemist with a long history of building communities. Yarrow is a change maker and with his vision and HATCH community unites creative leaders for a better world through mentorship in creativity and innovation. Think of it as an ecosystem of transformative experiences helping to create a beautiful, sustainable, and just...

Larry Bleiberg is a delightful, curious and imaginative travel writer who uses all his senses to engage his readers to feel the human experience. He is thoughtful and honest with a passion to inspire others to travel more.   Larry is an eight-time Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Award winner and was honored for editing the best newspaper travel section in the country. He served on a Pulitzer Prize...

The Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford Continues. Richard is the host of the popular TV series, Leave No Trace, and he highlights the importance of conservation, sustainable travel and ecotourism.  Ecotourism has become increasingly popular over the past years with more and more people wanting to spend their vacations in natural environments without disturbing or dama...

Corey Costanzo and Robin Fann of Still Point Wellness Spa, a destination wellness spa in Asheville, NC, provide effortless relaxation through a combination of world-class services designed to reconnect to your body’s wisdom. Corey and Robin share what makes Still Point Wellness unique as a destination spa and how their special combination of top quality services—including Saltwater Floatation (sen...

The Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford continues. Richard is the host of the popular TV series Leave No Trace, now on Binge.com and other global platforms. Ricky immerses himself into local cultures and understands what brings people together. Fresh from filming Season Two of Leave No Trace TV, Ricky shares how his trip to Costa Rica unfolded and how much he learned a...

The Speaking of Travel + Gulf Coast Love Story series with Dayna Reggero of the Climate Listening Project is a platform to keep you informed on what’s happening in one of the most beautiful and vulnerable areas, The Gulf Coast.  Joining Dayna is Ebony Stewart,  an elite performer, brilliant lyricist and award-winning playwright. Her newest collection, Bloodfresh, blends her understanding of craft...

Southern Scotland is a magical land and is on Lonely Planet’s list of top 30 places to travel in 2023. You can go visit with tour leader Tebbe Davis and Mark Nicol, a native of the Scottish Borders.  Mark and Tebbe will be visiting sites taking guests back in time through the tumultuous history of the area from Roman and Viking invasions to the 400 year wars of Independence with England.  They wil...

Mark Wolters helps people help themselves when they are traveling so they can take charge of their own vacations.  Mark shares his family's success as influencers and as our travel go-to resources. Mark is committed to telling it like it is. So, he does. Honest travel isn’t a catch phrase for Mark - it's a way of life for him and his family. Mark's day job is as a Professor of Marke...