Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." 

Today I am living my dream of taking Speaking of Travel live with three amazing world- changing guests at the LEAF Global Arts Retreat.

LEAF Global Arts  plays a significant role in fostering community and over the years has become an essential role of this community and provides opportunities for people to come together and celebrate their shared customs, beliefs, and values. 

My guests on this special live show, Masankho Banda, Amanda Lucidon and Chase Pickering, are leaders and visionaries ready to stand up and make a difference.

Amanda is an award-winning photographer, filmmaker, and New York Times best-selling author. She served as an Official White House photographer responsible for documenting President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama from 2013 to 2017 and she is one of only a few female White House photographers in history. 

Her two highly-recommended books, Chasing Light: Michelle Obama Through the Lens of a White House Photographer, featuring beautiful photographs of the First Lady, and Reach Higher,  her book adapted for young readers, is a beautiful celebration, and powerful reminder, of the impact of a remarkable First Lady.

Today, Amanda is helping bring awareness to adverse childhood experiences with creativity, mindfulness, education, and collaboration to address trauma through her organization, Grounded.

Masankho is a multidisciplinary Performing Artist, InterPlay Leader, Spiritual Healer, and Peace Builder from Malawi, Central Africa. He’s been a part of LEAF for the past 20+ years as a performer, lecturer, and adviser. 

Using performing arts, he motivates and inspires people of all ages to work together to bring about peace, social justice, and cultural understanding.
 
Chase is the great-great-grandson of Biltmore's founder George Vanderbilt. He serves as Vice President of the Biltmore House guest experience and operations. He’s also an incredible photographer!

In high school, Chase met Jane Goodall and formed a student group to work with her Roots and Shoots program. He later became a youth leadership fellow and board member with the Jane Goodall Institute. 

Travel is not just a movement. It can act as a portal, much like a photographer. It has the ability to encapsulate a moment or memory to allow us to transcend space and time.  

On this special live Speaking of Travel, discover life lessons from those who have had the honor to be  connected with people they highly admire and how they use these lessons every day.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel!

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