Give Me Some Good News

What if your next great tourism experience is already in your community and just needs a little support? In episode 52 of Give Me Some Good News, we learn from Tim Roberts, Tourism Manager for Mansfield, Texas, to explore how a historic, 158-seat theater became a thriving home for local creativity. Tim shares how Mansfield’s Cultural Incubator program lowered barriers for artists, grew annual gros...

What does it actually take to build a destination brand from the ground up? In this episode of Give Me Some Good News , Caleb sits down with Jessica Novotny, Tourism Specialist for Hanover County, Virginia, to talk about launching a new DMO, finding a destination’s authentic identity, and the realities of working on a small tourism team. Jessica shares how Hanover turned community input, agritouri...

What happens when destination marketers stop overthinking the work and get back to why tourism matters? In this episode of Give Me Some Good News, Caleb sits down with Dave Page of Visit Portland, Maine to talk about telling the authentic story of a destination, balancing iconic experiences with the unexpected, and why more data, technology, and AI don't always make our jobs easier. Dave also...

For a very special episode 50, Caleb sits down with Stuart Butler, CEO of Visit Myrtle Beach and co-host of Destination Discourse, for a conversation about what it takes to challenge the status quo and move the tourism industry forward. Stuart shares the unlikely journey from studying rocket science to leading one of the country’s premier destination organizations, the experiences that shaped his...

For Episode 49, Caleb turns the microphone around for the first solo episode of Give Me Some Good News. After nearly a year of conversations with destination leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers, and tourism professionals, Caleb shares five lessons that have stuck with him: nobody has it all figured out, relationships compound, data matters because people matter, the best leaders stay curious, and...

Fall and holiday events take a lot of work.... but how do you know if they actually worked? In this episode of Give Me Some Good News, Caleb sits down with Datafy’s CRO, Lauren Rogers, to talk about how destinations can better promote, measure, and understand the impact of their events. From reaching the right audiences before an event to measuring attendance, visitor spending, and advertising imp...

What does it take for a smaller destination to punch above its weight? We find out when we sit down with Steven Schumacher, President of Cartersville Museum City, to talk about bold destination leadership, building a brand that stands out, and why a smaller budget doesn't have to mean a smaller impact. Steven shares the story behind Cartersville's Museum City identity, why successful DMO l...

In this episode of Give Me Some Good News , Caleb sits down with Andy Clinton, President & CEO of Visit York County, to talk about his journey from an entry-level visitor services role to leading the DMO in the community where he grew up. Andy shares lessons on leadership, developing the next generation of tourism professionals, balancing visitor growth with community needs, and why DMOs incre...

In this episode of the Give Me Some Good News Podcast, Caleb sits down with Jay Schexnaydre, the new President & CEO of Louisiana’s Cajun Bayou Tourism, to talk about culture, history, and finding the right fit in your career. After spending 25 years at a historic attraction, Jay is bringing a unique perspective to the DMO world—one rooted in storytelling, cultural preservation, and a deep per...

In Episode 44 of Give Me Some Good News , Caleb sits down with Juliet Velazquez, a fellow Destinations International 30 Under 30 honoree and tourism industry leader, for a powerful conversation about leadership, advocacy, and the future of our industry. Juliet shares her journey into tourism, from nonprofit storytelling to destination marketing, and how mentors, relationships, and a passion for ad...

In Episode 43 of Give Me Some Good News , Caleb sits down with Greg Star of Driven Authentic Branding Solutions to discuss why destination leaders need to embrace their role as chief storytellers. Drawing from Greg’s 2026 Tourism CEO Visibility Benchmark , they explore why so many DMO leaders are missing an opportunity to use LinkedIn as a tool for advocacy, stakeholder engagement, and community i...

Recorded live at the 2026 TTRA Annual International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina, this episode of Give Me Some Good News features an inspiring conversation with Dr. Jim Petrick , Professor at Texas A&M University and one of the inaugural TTRA Fellows. Jim has spent decades researching the psychological, physiological, and social benefits of travel, and in this episode, he challenge...

In Episode 42 of Give Me Some Good News , Caleb welcomes back Emily Zertuche, founder of Zertura, to discuss how AI is changing the way travelers discover destinations—and why that might be great news for tourism. Emily shares her journey from destination marketing leader to entrepreneur, explaining how destinations can improve their AI visibility, embrace authentic storytelling, and stand out in...

Recorded live at the 2026 TTRA Annual International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina, this episode of Give Me Some Good News features a conversation with Duane Parrish , Director of the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation & Tourism. With more than 15 years leading one of the nation's most successful state tourism offices, Duane shares what it takes to market an entire st...

AI is changing the way we work—but what if its greatest potential isn't replacing people, but empowering them? In Episode 40 of Give Me Some Good News , Caleb sits down with Mitch Mitchem, founder and CEO of HIVE, to explore how destination organizations can embrace artificial intelligence without losing the human connection that makes travel so meaningful. Together, they discuss why wisdom wi...

Recorded live at the 2026 TTRA Annual International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina, this episode of Give Me Some Good News features an inspiring conversation with Heath Dillard , President & CEO of VisitGreenvilleSC, and Stephanie Pace Brown , President & CEO of Visit Winston-Salem. Both leaders took an unconventional path to the CEO role, beginning their careers in research and...

In this episode of Give Me Some Good News , Caleb sits down with Megan Buchbinder, Executive Vice President of Marketing & Strategy at Wilmington and Beaches CVB, for a conversation that goes far beyond marketing campaigns and media plans. Together, they explore the importance of relationship-driven leadership, mentorship, community collaboration, and the power of authentic connections in the...

Recorded live at the 2026 TTRA Annual International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina, this episode of Give Me Some Good News features a candid conversation with Kelby Bosshardt, CTO & Co-Founder of Datafy . Kelby shares the origin story behind Datafy—from consulting work in rural destination development to identifying a critical gap in tourism data accessibility and affordability. What...

Whether you're attending your first Destinations International Annual Convention or your fifteenth, this episode is your guide to getting the most out of the industry's biggest gathering. Caleb sits down with Julie Dennett, Senior Vice President of Membership Engagement at Destinations International, to discuss how attendees can maximize their conference experience—from building meaningful...

Welcome to Good News from TTRA , recorded live from the 2026 TTRA Annual International Conference in Greenville, South Carolina. In this kickoff in-person episode, host Caleb Sullivan sits down with tourism researcher, educator, and thought leader Jeremy Fairley (Greater Insights) for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving relationship between data, leadership, and destination decision-making...

In Episode 38 of Give Me Some Good News , Caleb chats with accessibility advocate, speaker, travel advisor, and founder of Incredible Memories Travel, Kristy Durso, for a powerful conversation about making travel more inclusive for everyone. Drawing from her lived experience as a wheelchair user, military veteran, mother, and tourism professional, Kristy shares how accessible travel impacts far mo...

What does it take to lead one of America's most iconic tourism destinations? In Episode 37, Caleb sits down with Kara Franker, President & CEO of the Florida Keys and Key West, to discuss her remarkable journey from prosecutor and journalist to destination marketing leader. Kara shares how she helped rebuild the Florida Keys tourism organization from the ground up, the importance of doing...

Thomas Salley returns to Give Me Some Good News as our first-ever repeat guest to discuss his transition from destination marketing organization (DMO) leader to agency professional and what he's learning from the other side of the table. Together, we explore how AI is changing trip planning, why destination marketers need a more dynamic and holistic strategy, and why authenticity remains the m...

In Episode 35 of Give Me Some Good News , Caleb sits down with Cody Chomiak, Vice President of Marketing at Travel Manitoba, and one of the tourism industry's most positive and respected leaders. Together, they explore the power of relationships in destination marketing, why curiosity and kindness can be career superpowers, and how Manitoba is transforming from Canada's best-kept secret into a mus...

In Episode 34 of Give Me Some Good News , we chat with Sagar from Wheel the World to unpack one of the most important conversations happening in destination marketing today: accessibility in travel. From the difference between ADA compliance and true usability to the massive economic impact of accessible tourism, this episode explores how destinations can better serve travelers with disabilities,...