Travel With Meaning

What can food teach us about culture, connection, and living a meaningful life? Recorded inside Baldi Restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, this episode of Travel With Meaning features acclaimed chef and restaurateur Edoardo Baldi. Born in Seravezza and raised in Forte dei Marmi on the Tuscan coast, Chef Edo's earliest memories are rooted in family, food, and community. From trips to th...

Welcome to another episode of the Travel With Meaning Podcast. This episode was recorded live in front of an audience at The Kinn in Venice Beach as part of their weekly Startup Café series, featuring conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, and innovators. Our guest is Keith Eshelman, Founder and CEO of Parks Project, the purpose-driven outdoor lifestyle and apparel brand that has given back n...

From the moment you arrive in St. Anton, something shifts. In this episode of Travel With Meaning, Mike shares conversations from the Mountain Yoga Festival in Austria — where nature, community, and presence come together in a way that's hard to explain but easy to feel. Through voices of locals, teachers, and travelers, this episode explores the deeper side of travel: belonging, slowing down, and...

Welcome to Chapter 2 of the Travel With Meaning podcast. This isn't a full episode — it's the beginning of what's ahead. A real conversation about where we've been, the heartache and human moments we've been navigating, and the search for meaning through it all. This year, we're taking a more intentional approach to travel, storytelling, and connection — with extraordinary adventures and incredibl...

Mike sits down with Lawrence Longo, a serial food and hospitality entrepreneur whose journey from hidden menu curator to restaurant empire builder has reshaped how people connect through food. Lawrence shares how his early obsession with experience over ego led him from launching Off the Menu — a community built around secret dishes and insider dining — to reviving Irv's Burgers, expanding Prince...

In this deeply personal episode, Mike returns to his childhood home in Pacific Palisades — a place that once symbolized comfort, community, and family — now forever changed by one of the most devastating wildfires in U.S. history. Through intimate conversations with his mother (and her experience of living in the Palisades for over 50 years), as well as his childhood best friend, photographer Chri...

Ever wondered what it's like to record a podcast at 38,000 feet? Host Mike Schibel takes Travel With Meaning to new heights—literally—onboard Condor Airlines' flight from Frankfurt to Los Angeles on the sleek Airbus A330-900neo . Joined by flight attendant Brendan Osborne, this episode captures the heart of travel, connection, and adventure midair. Brendan shares what makes Condor stand out—from i...

What happens when you trade speed for stillness? In this special episode, Mike shares his journey along the legendary Danube River aboard the Riverside Mozart. From the historic streets of Vienna to quiet castles and vineyards, this slow travel experience reveals why river cruising isn't just another trip — it's an invitation to breathe, connect, and be fully present. Along the way, Mike talks wit...

Recorded in front of a live audience at the KINN in Venice Beach as part of their weekly Startup Café series, this is a special Travel Talk episode hosted by Travel With Meaning, exploring how travel can spark entrepreneurial ideas. We discussed global brands like Starbucks, Tom's Shoes, and Away Suitcases — all companies whose founders were inspired by travel. In this episode, our two guests shar...

What happens when a world traveler finds himself detained in one of the most dangerous places on Earth—completely by accident? What happens when a world traveler finds himself detained in one of the most dangerous places on Earth—completely by accident? In this gripping episode of Travel With Meaning, we sit down with Sam Goodwin, an American adventurer whose mission to visit every country in the...

In this special Travel With Meaning podcast episode, recorded live in front of an intimate audience at The KINN in Venice Beach, we reconnect with Jessica Blotter — CEO and Co-Founder of Kind Traveler , and a returning guest on the show. Jessica shares the powerful origin story of Kind Traveler, sparked by a life-changing trip that opened her eyes to a new way of thinking about travel. We catch up...

On this episode of the Travel With Meaning podcast, we sit down with Nick Monica, the founder and CEO of Gnarwhal Coffee and Companion Restaurant in Venice Beach. Recorded in front of a live audience at The Kinn, this inspiring conversation explores the meaningful experiences that shaped Nick's path—from pivotal mentors and personal growth to the unforgettable road trip that inspired the name "Gna...

In this episode of the Travel with Meaning podcast, we sit down with Henley Vazquez, co-founder of Fora Travel and a self-proclaimed hotel junkie. Henley's journey into the travel industry was anything but conventional—from growing up on a farm in Virginia to building a cutting-edge travel agency that empowers advisors and travelers alike. Along the way, she shares stories of her early travel expe...

While recording the Celebrating Seattle series with Jeannette Ceja, in collaboration with Visit Seattle, we had the privilege of meeting inspiring business owners within Seattle's Hispanic-Latino  communities. We listened to their stories, explored the evolution of these vibrant communities in Seattle, and discovered what makes the city so special to them. In part 1 and part 2 of the series, we fe...

In this episode of the Travel with Meaning podcast, we sit down with Michaela Guzy, an award-winning documentary filmmaker, travel journalist, and founder of Oh The People You Meet. Michaela's global adventures have taken her to 120 countries, from the savannas of Africa to the lakes of Northern Michigan. In this episode, Michaela shares incredible stories, from navigating lost luggage with the he...

In Episode 119 of the Travel With Meaning podcast, we are thrilled to host Chef Lee Anne Wong, a culinary visionary known for her impactful journey from New York City's fine dining scene to the vibrant food culture of Maui. Chef Wong, a Top Chef alumna, shares her incredible story of moving to Hawaiʻi, opening Koko Head Cafe and eventually planting roots in Maui. After the devastating 2023 wildfir...

In this special episode of the Travel With Meaning podcast, host Mike Schibel brings you a unique blend of conversations with renowned chefs and a talented local musician from Maui. They highlight the depth of Maui's culinary and cultural richness, reveal how Maui has impacted their lives, and share their stories of community resilience after the Lahaina wildfires. Recorded at the Healdsburg Wine...

In episode 117, we welcome Shalini Vadhera, a renowned global beauty expert and entrepreneur. Shalini's journey from a celebrity makeup artist to a leading figure in the beauty industry is truly inspiring. She shares her experiences growing up with a multicultural background and traveling the world, which shaped her unique perspective on beauty. Shalini discusses her brand, Ready, Set, Jet, aimed...

In episode 116, we are thrilled to host visionary filmmaker and storyteller Danny Lee, whose work has profoundly impacted the arts and travel landscape. Danny's journey began with his passion for hip hop, street art, and sports, which he seamlessly wove into a thriving filmmaking career. He takes us behind the scenes of his latest PBS project, " The Express Way with Dulé Hill ," highlighting unsun...

Part 3 of our "Celebrating Seattle" series culminated in gathering our community of like-minded travelers, eager to hear the captivating travel tales and deep affection for Seattle from James Beard Award nominee Chef Kristi Brown of Communion Restaurant in Seattle's Central District. Recorded at Kinn Venice amidst a live audience comprising media, influencers, travel advisors, and travel enthusias...

In part two of our special series "Celebrating Seattle"  in collaboration with Visit Seattle TWM podcast host Mike Schibel is joined again by the acclaimed bilingual travel journalist Jeannette Ceja.  For any traveler, the heart of a destination lies within its people and community. We had the privilege of connecting with remarkable small business owners within the Hispanic, Latino, and BIPOC comm...

We're excited to kick off a special three-part podcast series "Celebrating Seattle" in collaboration with Visit Seattle . Our friend Jeannette Ceja , an award-winning bilingual travel journalist and TV host, joins TWM podcast host Mike Schibel to explore some of Seattle's iconic attractions and connect with small business owners in the vibrant Hispanic, Latino, and BIPOC communities. Our adventure...

On episode 112 we talk with Mickela Mallozzi the four-time Emmy® Award-winning Host and Executive Producer of  Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi , a travel series highlighting the diversity of dance which airs on PBS stations nationwide and on Amazon Prime globally.    A professional dancer and trained musician, Mickela decided to start a journey around the world, taking her camera with her to follo...

In episode 111, we sit down with Jeff Jenkins, the host of Never Say Never on Nat Geo and Disney+, a motivational speaker, and the creative mind behind @ chubbydiaries, a platform inspiring individuals of all sizes to explore the globe. Jeff's journey began with his first flight to Japan in his early twenties, a pivotal moment that transformed his life forever. During our conversation, Jeff delves...

Welcome to the 110th episode of the Travel with Meaning podcast. In this distinctive feature, we delve into the tale of a culinary fascination with a dish we encountered in Austria back in 2022. Our journey led us over 6,000 miles to the world's oldest festival dedicated to this particular delicacy. Enter Knödel, the Austrian dish that transcends its once-perceived simplicity, especially in the to...