Speaking of Travel®

Ukrainian-born pianist Inna Faliks shares her new book, "Weight in the Fingertips: A Musical Odyssey from Soviet Ukraine to the World Stage,” a memoir of her adventures in music and her hopes for tomorrow. Inna shares what it was like growing up in Odessa, studying in Chicago, and teaching in Los Angeles. Her poignant, beautiful story about love and hope includes the special people in her life who supported her growth and desires, her own “love story," and how the war in Ukraine and her own life journey in music fosters empathy and compassion.She also explores how a person’s humanity makes their art honest and their voice unique, and how the life-long challenge of retaining that voice is fueled by a balance between being a great musician and being a human being. Inna provides powerful insights into the role of music in a world of conflict, change, and hope for a better tomorrow.A must listen. Only on Speaking of Travel. Tune in.For more information, visit www.innafaliks.comThanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Mark Gordon Smith, founder of Private Italy Tours, shares the current state of travel to Italy. Find out how hotel costs in Italy are changing and which websites you can use to find competitive fares and techniques to negotiate directly with airlines. Mark also shares where visitors are going in Italy to avoid crowds and large cities, the new itinerary services offered by Private Italy Tours, and their newest tour addition in 2024 to Trentino Alto-Adige.Also on Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares how design, engineering, financing and construction take significant time in the “airport world,” and how this well-connected airport is leading the way to the future. Stay tuned! Only on Speaking of Travel.Guest Links:www.private-italy.comhttps://flyavl.comThanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Loti Woods, Co-Founder and Ex. Director of Champions For Wildlife, shares how traveling and educating children about how to love wildlife using art is helping create a passion for helping to change the world. Loti and her husband travel around the country for their nonprofit Champions for Wildlife with a very simple mission: To inspire kids to fall in love with wildlife using art. Their focus is on underdog species like the red wolf which only lives in one place in the world - North Carolina.Before the pandemic, Loti had traveled to over 100 countries. When the pandemic hit, she and husband decided to quit flying and explore the US in an RV.Loti shares how meeting so many passionate people in conservation has created a community of people who support and advocate for wildlife. Donations and volunteers are always welcome and needed to support the nonprofit. Also on Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares how one of the best-connected regional airports in the country, is moving to the future and taking off on the most significant infrastructure endeavors in the airport's 60-plus year history. Tune in! Guest LinksChampions for WildlifeAsheville Regional Airport Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Imagine hospitality providers who instill their guests with the confidence and inspiration to try new things and new places to explore.Jennifer Simpson, CEO (Chief Experience Officer) and co-owner of Bespoke Experiences, based in New Orleans, provides custom, luxury travel services in 17 cities throughout the US and Canada. Jennifer shares why creating superlative human experiences that connect consumers in new and innovative ways, while doing what is right for society and the planet, is the future and she describes some reasons why people adopt luxury travel.Also on Speaking of Travel is Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, to share how this airport is standing at a pivotal moment to shape the future.Tina explains why their groundbreaking historical journey for new growth is bigger than anything experienced in the airport's history and how the construction of the new airport terminal is a natural next step for  connecting the Western North Carolina region to the world. Stay tuned! Only on Speaking of Travel!Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Professional dancer and trained musician Mickela Mallozzi is the award-winning host and producer of Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, a dance travel series covering her adventures as she experiences the world, one dance at a time. Mickela is magical and joyful and so passionate about the people of the world you just want to be with her and dance! From re-discovering her family’s roots in Southern Italy to dancing tango in Buenos Aires, the series has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, O Magazine  Dance Magazine, Forbes, and more.Mickela said, “I started this show simply to travel and learn as many dances as I could from around the world. What I didn’t expect to happen was the personal connections made by the show. We get some really heartfelt messages that are amazing … people who say they have become inspired to get a passport and travel or take up a dance class."Mickela shares information about the upcoming Season 6 of Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi  and the featured communities in New York City including Latinx, Garifuna, Little Sri Lanka, Arab, Little Caribbean and more. Also, find out how Mickela connects with people and cultures through the universal language of dance and music and how cultural sustainability enriches travel experiences for both travelers and the environment.Get energized by listening to this episode of Speaking of Travel and discover how you can easily practice cultural sustainability wherever you travel. And dance!Stay tuned!Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Julie Kaplan shares her solo adventure in Iraq and how her visit was transformative, challenged stereotypes and showcased the country's vibrant culture. And how she created a video series, "Julie in Iraq,” that is getting rave reviews. Julie's passion for travel ignited at the age of 12 when she embarked on solo trips to visit her grandparents on the East Coast of the US. Since then, she has fearlessly embraced a life filled with adventures, both solo and with fellow travelers. Julie talks about her remarkable travel experiences in the Kurdistan region and how she travelled by hitchhiking, navigating border checkpoints, staying in the homes of strangers, and the amazing food she loved!Also on Speaking of Travel for those thinking of moving to another country. There are challenges and what could be life-changing experiences. Fellow traveler John Fritchie shares how moving overseas to Portugal has worked out so far and how he made the move happen and why. Only on Speaking of Travel. Tune in!Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Guy Groom, an independent traveler with a passion for going off track into remote locations and exploring isolated cultures, shares how his inspirations for traveling changed over time and why not all those who wander are lost.Guy explains why the freedom to wake up and do what presents itself to him is priceless, and what it feels like to truly be in the moment in the environment.  And how his joy in finding the "golden threads" in this world is so magical.Also on Speaking of Travel, Tina Kinsey, Vice-president of Marketing, PR, and Air Service Development at the Asheville Regional Airport, shares how the airport is looking to the future as passenger numbers continue to increase and how it projects trafficking for decades to come. Currently the airport is served by six airlines providing nonstop service to 26 unique airport destinations.As with any airport's growth, a city grows with it. When that growth spikes in the next few years, local businesses and residents must be ready for the swift changes that follow. Tina updates construction and timelines.Tune in! Only on Speaking of Travel. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Today we continue with the Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford. Richard is the host of the popular TV series, Leave No Trace TV, and together we highlight the importance of conservation, sustainable travel and eco-tourism. And Ricky has been out there traveling! On this episode, Ricky catches us up on where he and his crew have explored for Season Two of Leave No Trace TV and what the vibe is traveling right now. This is a fast-changing travel world with so many people traveling and Ricky shares what he's seeing.And he explains what travel is teaching him now and how he handles travel stress and unpredicted situations. Also, Ricky answers questions from Speaking of Travel listeners about his travel life. And fills us in on where the Leave No Trace TV crew are off to next.And find out all the locations you can view Season One of Leave No Trace TV. All right here on Speaking of Travel. Stay tuned!Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Key West continues to be a vibrant writers' colony and journalist Carey Winfrey compiled a new eclectic collection, “Key West Sketches – Writers At Mile Zero,” by writers who have lived, worked, and played in Key West.Carey spent 45 years as a journalist in newspapers, television and magazines, retiring as only the third editor of Smithsonian magazine in 2011, the year he and his wife Jane began spending half the year in Key West. Carey shares how the journey unfolded. And he explains how thrilling the process was to collect a treasure trove of more than sixty essays, reminiscences, musings, and poems about Key West, long been America's most vibrant writers' colony, tracing its writerly roots to Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Robert Frost, and so many more.   Also on Speaking of Travel,  Brighde Reed, co-founder of World Vegan Travel, shares how you can enjoy being a vegan on a stress-free luxury adventure with dining experiences that are off the charts!Only on Speaking of Travel. Tune in.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

People began traveling to Jackson County to beat the heat in the 1790s. Guests Nick Breedlove, ED of Jackson County tourism and Brett Stewart of Outland Hospitality in Cashiers, NC, share why this region is the place to cool off.There is so much to see and do in Jackson County. With charming small towns like Balsam, Cashiers, Cullowhee, Dillsboro, Glenville, Sylva, Tuckasegee, Webster, and Whittier, the area is filled with lots of fun and enjoyable activities from hiking and fly-fishing to artist galleries and historic sites. Nick shares why people began traveling to the mountains to beat the heat in the late 1790s and brings the story back to modern day with the same perspective and why people beat the heat by traveling there today. Brett shares what it was like growing in Cashiers and provides a local perspective of what it was like in the 80s and 90s. He explains what is bringing people back to Jackson County today and why they are creating new entrepreneurship businesses. Outland’s projects include Hotel Cashiers, a reinvented motor lodge in the heart of Cashiers, NC, and Outland Great Smoky Mountains Chalet & Lodge, a unique destination at the doorstep to the Great Smoky Mountains and Blue Ridge Parkway.  Nick and Brett share how the Jackson County Tourism Development Association supports area businesses and how the community is focused on developing talent and helping boost local economy.And they provide some very helpful travel tips for summer travel, like how to be bear-wise and keep an eye out for wildlife and how to make the most of your trip with the best times to visit with lower rates. Also, Jackson County is a leader in sustainable tourism with programs like Leave No Trace to help educate and inform travelers to become savvy and responsible travelers.Only on Speaking of Travel. Tune in! Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Neil Weinstein dedicates his life to helping solve some of the world’s biggest challenges. But it wasn't always that way. Neil shares what it was like growing up in a family that never traveled and how he eventually found his wanderlust. He explains how he transitioned his career to international development, where his job is travel. Over the years he and his wife Annette have lived and worked in Cambodia, the Republic of Georgia, and Myanmar. Together they started Education First Cambodia, which empowers smart, poor Cambodian women to study at university and become future leaders.Neil explains the importance for young people to travel in the developing world, how to go about changing careers, and how to get involved in international development work.He also shares why adaptability, flexibility and being able to roll with the punches is important while traveling and when working in other cultures that are different from the US and very different from each other.A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

For author Sierra Godfrey, living abroad as a child opened her eyes to the greater world and made her appreciate change. Sierra shares how her love of finding home and transformation helped create uplifting stories.Sierra is a Santa Cruz, CA, native and her love for her hometown comes through in her debut novel, A Very Typical Family. Her forthcoming  novel, The Second Chance Hotel, is set in Greece where she lived with her mother when she was a young girl.For Sierra, writing is where she discovers home and what home is. She shares how her love of travel and the memories of her adventures have inspired her to create interesting characters. And how writing as a woman helps her come to terms with her own feelings and dreams. A must read! Also on Speaking of Travel, for all you dog lovers out there, Jeff Krider & Patti Moore of Barkwells, a unique, dog-centric place in Western North Carolina, share why their small, peaceful community of vacation guest homes is the perfect destination for dogs and the people who love them. And, Tina Kinsey from the Asheville Regional Airport, shares how airports today are creating more creative, flexible and innovative methods to keep passengers satisfied while trying to keep up epic growth. A must listen. Only on Speaking of Travel. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Sometimes a journey back into family secrets becomes so riveting, you can't help but be transported. For author Dominic Smith, his newest novel, Return to Valetto, transports readers to a near-abandoned town in Umbria, Italy. Dominic shares a story rich in history, resilience, and courage.  Dominic explains the book's connection to Italy and how his research evolved during his travels to become historical fiction. This memorable, engaging and moving story is filled with a kind of magic taking readers to another time and place that is a combination of real and imagined.Also on Speaking of Travel, Mary Tantillo founded Dolci di Maria after creating delicious desserts inspired by Italian pastries for her children with allergies to gluten and dairy. Today she designs decadent desserts for people with specific dietary needs and lifestyle choices that everyone can enjoy. And Justin Belleme, founder of the JB Media Group and publisher of Romantic Asheville. Com, shares new information about how brands are applying a regenerative model to take less and give back more. A must listen. Only on Speaking of Travel.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Matt Willey is an artist with a love for honeybees. He's the founder of The Good of the Hive Initiative, a global art project with a radical mission of bringing people together through art, bees and conservation. The bee and her hive are his symbol, but the project is about much more than bees.Matt shares his background as an artist and why he's now painting 50,000 honeybees in murals around the world. Matt's mural paintings convey a story much bigger than honeybees and he explains the existing relationship with them. And what does this all mean to Matt personally as this is unfolding? Find out what's new at The Good of the Hive and his continued mission, film, book, more community engagement, and even adding species. "My mission is to get people curious again about everything. Not just pollinators, it's about each other." Most importantly, Matt shares ideas on how we can all  make a difference. Tune in. Only on Speaking of Travel. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Gerry Ellis is the founder and director of the nonprofit GLOBIO, which he launched in 2001 after a 20-year career as a wildlife-environment photographer/filmmaker traveling the entire planet.At GLOBIO he continues to travel leading up the organization's filming and media programs in the wilds of Africa and Borneo to bring the plight of great apes and primates into view.GLOBIO is a global awareness nonprofit that creates environmental films and podcasts, and provides support to conservation organizations around the world. They share their stories globally, while educating the public about shared environmental issues. Gerry explains how travel became a dominant part of his life, both professionally and personally, and how travel influenced his travel thinking, from packing, fitting into other cultures, and why he thinks about the world as the place he calls his backyard. Gerry is co-creator and host of Talking Apes Podcast. Through his three decades of travel around the planet to document apes, he has met with many of the extraordinary people working to ensure apes survive, many of those becoming a guest on Talking Apes. And Gerry is also the creator and cameraman behind Apes Like Us on YouTube.A must listen. Only on Speaking of Travel.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Amit Jaipuria is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years’ experience founding startups across diverse industries. He is also the Founder and Chief Innovation Officer at the Postcard Travel Club where he’s building a social network of mindful travelers interested in promoting mindful travel through storytelling.Amit shares why traveling mindfully becomes a better way to travel and its role in self-growth and personal transformation. And he explains how storytelling and community help create a positive and meaningful travel experience.Also, Amit shares how the Postcard Travel Club is fast becoming a global community interested in immersive travel experiences, self-growth and personal transformation. By sharing local stories, Amit hopes to inspire more people to travel with empathy and understanding and create more sustainable and inclusive practices from their travel experiences.Postcard Travel Club's mission is to build a global database of local travel stories, believing that these stories are key to unlocking travel as a force for good. A must listen. Only on Speaking of Travel.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Palmer McIntyre, Director for the North Carolina Year of the Trail, shares how the celebration of outdoor recreation in NC showcases the state’s beautiful landscapes, provides healthy recreation, and stimulates local economies. She also works for the Piedmont Land Conservancy, a regional land trust in the Triad area.Palmer explains why and how the 2023 NC Year of the Trail was created by an effort led by the Great Trails State Coalition and supported by the NC General Assembly. Today, the NC Year of the Trail is the largest statewide celebration of trails and outdoor recreation in North Carolina history. Discover how and where to experience trails and why it is important to spend more time outdoors. Also on Speaking of Travel, there is one particular trail in NC found way up on top of Beech Mountain you will not want to miss. Travel over the rainbow to the yellow brick road and celebrate Land of Oz's annual Autumn at Oz Festival - one of the world’s largest Wonderful Wizard of Oz events. Sean Barrett, artistic director at Land of Oz, fills us in on this annual tradition still going strong today.Stay tuned! Only on Speaking of Travel!Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Erinn Dearth and Dan Beckmann created Letters From Home in the style of USO dances with a witty, modern edge. Their performances are funny and heartfelt and they share stories from their recently completed “Letters From Home 50 States Tour.” They traveled to every state of the country focusing on what unites us as a country, rather than what divides us. “It kind of makes people think and appreciate the freedoms they’ve been given,” Dan said. “The family of veterans often get teary-eyed and moved. Which we love, because that’s why we’re doing it. It’s very rewarding.”Discover how Erinn and Dan embrace the power of positive thinking, attitude and effort as they sing and dance their way into the hearts of heros. Also on Speaking of Travel, find out how to really build bridges and develop partnership frameworks with Mark Collins, Partnerships Manager for RomanticAsheville.com. Mark shares some tips on how to build a successful travel partner network. And, as passenger numbers climb in air travel, airports are moving forward with expansions. At the Asheville Regional Airport, they are leading the way improving overall efficiency and boosting safety. With all of this comes growth and the airport is expanding to meet the rising demand. Tina Kinsey from the Asheville Regional Airport shares updates on what you will need to know when traveling to and from the airport. Only on Speaking of Travel Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

The Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace Series with Richard Crawford, host of the Popular TV series, Leave No Trace TV, continues to help us learn to travel in ways that won't limit our future generations' ability to explore the world. On this episode of the Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace series, Ricky is busy finishing up Season Two of the popular Leave No Trace TV series and in Australia with the show’s director and cameraman, Ben Alcott. Ricky and Ben share updates on where they're going and how they choose each destination. Discover how to be an obsessive environmentalist and the importance of reducing our individual carbon footprints and find ways to make trips more sustainable, like where to go, what to pack, and how to decide getting there. And good news! You can watch all episodes of Leave No Trace TV, Season One, on Tubi, the leading free, premium, on-demand video streaming app, and on Bingenetworks.tv.Tune in on Speaking of Travel. Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Rachel Durchslag shares the challenges and obstacles she had to overcome while trekking some of the world’s most magnificent mountain ranges, along with her new sense of inner joy. Her new book, “While I Walk,” is Rachel’s personal journey to becoming a better person. The book is part trip guide to some of the best hikes in the world and part travel-log of Rachel’s personal journey to becoming a better walker... technically, spiritually, and mentally. Rachel shares how she first fell in love with hiking and what made her decide to hike the world's most beautiful hikes. And discover what it is about solo hiking and travel that truly move her. Rachel opens up to what struggles she faced while abroad and how have they helped her grow.Also on Speaking of Travel is Craig Honeycutt, Secretary of the Board of Directors of Friends of Jockeys Ridge to share how Jockey's Ridge State Park on North Carolina’s coast was saved from destruction and how the Friends of Jockey’s Ridge nonprofit organization was established to support and maintain the premier spot for kite flying, sand boarding and enjoying beautiful sunsets,A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel.Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.