The Trip That Changed Me

Mallory was born with an entrepreneurial spirit, and though she loved working with businesses to strategize and further their objectives, she was overworked and under-inspired at her New York advertising agency. After cancelling several solo trips due to the demands of her industry, she finally committed to a much-needed getaway in Morocco. On today's episode, Mallory shares experiences from that...

Jessica Nabongo (@ thecatchmeifyoucan ) has been traveling internationally since she was just four years old, born to Ugandan immigrant parents who were no strangers to adventure and exploration. At a young age, she set a lofty goal for herself – to travel the entire world – and officially met her goal at just 35 years old. On today’s episode, Jessica shares stories from her experience as the firs...

If you’ve ever wanted to capture a moment with a loved one while traveling, you’ve likely faced the awkward encounter of asking a stranger to take a photo, only to realize the final product is entirely subpar. On today’s episode, Nicole Smith shares how a reunion with her best friend in Paris gave her the idea for Flytographer, a company that connects travelers with local photographers around the...

As Editor-in-Chief of Travel + Leisure, Jacqueline Gifford spends a lot of time out of office exploring far-flung destinations. It’s a career she pursued, in part, thanks to her parents, who encouraged Jacqui’s cultural curiosity from the get-go. On today’s episode, Jacqueline shares a nostalgic trip to Japan, the country where she was born, at a particularly pivotal moment: her own pregnancy. We...

Back when feminist media company, Unearth Women, was just a twinkle in her eye, Nicole Vargas was an aspiring travel journalist trying to make it New York City. Immersed in the world of advertising and weeks from marrying a man who wasn't the one, Nikki took a solo trip to Argentina. On today’s episode, she recounts the journey that inspired her to quit her job, call off her wedding, and wholehear...

If ever you’ve found yourself directionless and uncertain of the future, you will relate to this week’s episode. Author Rachel Friedman shares the story of an impromptu trip to Ireland during her college years: an identity quest which changed her self-perception, brought an influential relationship into her life, and ultimately inspired her travel memoir, The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost. Aft...

While the work of Atticus the poet is extremely famous (he’s written three NYT best-selling books and has 1.3 million Instagram followers ), his identity remains a secret. The anonymous Canadian wears a mask for public appearances and has never revealed his real name. Not even to those fans with his words tattooed on their bodies. On today’s episode, Atticus reveals more of himself and his artisti...

If you’re a fan of ABC’s The Bachelor franchise then Ben Higgins will be very familiar to you. He was a contestant in The Bachelorette, star of The Bachelor, and now hosts The Bachelor Live On Stage and the Almost Famous Podcast (the theme of which is, you guessed it, all things Bachelor Nation). But Ben discovered his life’s mission long before he appeared on television for the first time. In tod...

Gail Simmons is a Canadian food writer, cookbook author, and judge on BRAVO’s Top Chef whose love of food started as far back as she can recall. Since childhood, Gail regularly traveled with her family to South Africa, her father’s country of origin. On today's episode, Gail shares the myriad of ways the country sparked her early interest in the world around her and introduced her to new cuisine....

Starting on December 12, we dive into conversations with entrepreneurs, activists, entertainers, authors, and everyday adventurers about the formative trip that changed the course of their lives. Tune in every other Thursday for a new travel story that will inspire you to take on the world.    First guests include: Top Chef's Gail Simmons, NYT Best-Selling poet Atticus, and former Bachelor star Be...