About the Journey

Oneika Raymond ends her wellness journey in Maui, Hawai‘i's second largest island known for its diverse landscapes, from lush rainforests to sandy beaches. There, she meets up with locals who help her become a more mindful malihini, or visitor, to the island by connecting with the Hawaiian language and history and shopping local.

Oneika begins her day with a morning Hawaiian language lesson on Kā‘anapali Beach with Luana Kawa’a, a language teacher who’s been instructing students to speak the melodic language for over 30 years. Luana knows that language is the gateway to cultivating a better understanding and appreciation for Hawaiian history and local traditions. She leads Oneika through a language lesson that connects her to the deep meaning behind essential Hawaiian vocabulary. 

Then, Oneika heads to her first stop of the day: Hale Hōʻikeʻike at the Bailey House, a museum run by the Maui Historical Society that boasts the largest collection of pre-contact artifacts in Maui. She meets up with volunteer coordinator James "Kimo" Guequierre to learn about the painstaking craftsmanship, and mana, or energy — especially from Maui’s women — that went into these artifacts.  

Next, Oneika goes in search of a Hawai’i specialty — shave ice. Her search ends at Olowalu General Store, a family run fixture of West Maui that’s been in operation since 1932. Oneika sits down with Olowalu’s manager, Rylee Ann Domogma, to learn about the importance of buying local to support independent purveyors on Maui. 

Oneika travels back to her hotel, the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, to meet one more inspiring business woman on Maui: Anna Kahalekulu, the founder of Kulua, a small batch clothing shop inspired by Maui. Oneika finds out how supporting local artisans like Anna sustains the community and contributes to a more meaningful experience on the island. 

Oneika and Anna end the day watching the nightly lele kawa, or cliff diving ceremony, that takes place on Kā‘anapali Beach. Looking out over the water, Oneika reflects on her transformative journey this season. 

Experience Maui's transformative power for yourself. For more about Oneika’s journey — and to get other itinerary ideas — visit Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. To learn more and book a room at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, visit the hotel’s website. Book wellness-inspired activities for yourself at Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities. Marriott Bonvoy members earn points on every experience booked through the site.

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, MNTRA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can watch full videos of each episode on the Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Oneika Raymond is hungry. And, luckily, she’s headed to Mexico City, one of the most exciting culinary destinations in the world — and a place she always finds herself coming back to. There, she visits three eating and drinking spots that connect her to the layered flavors and history that give Mexico City its particular sabor, or flavor, to deepen her understanding of the dynamic capital. 

Oneika starts her day off early with a sunrise float through Xochimilco, an historic and active canal system perhaps best known for its weekend parties on the water. But, Oneika’s guide, Anais Martinez, the founder of Devoured Food Tours, is here to show Oneika the quieter side of Xochimilco: its farms, or chinampas. Oneika and Anais tour a working chinampa, where Oneika picks fresh produce for a farm-to-table breakfast. Over the meal, Anais shares how Xochimilco once nourished most of Mexico City — and how its role continues to evolve as a vital piece of the culinary scene.

Then, Oneika heads to the beating heart of Mexico City’s food scene: its bustling streets. She meets up with Natalia de la Rosa, a local food and travel journalist at Tacos de Mixiote Castelán — one of Natalia’s go-to street food taco stands in her neighborhood of Juárez. Natalia shows Oneika how to order and dress up mixiote tacos — a taco you’ll be hard-pressed to find outside of Mexico. Then, they sit down to discuss the importance of street food to the fabric of daily life in Mexico City.   

After a full day of eats, Oneika ends her tasting tour back at her hotel, the JW Marriott Mexico City Polanco, for a digestif. She takes part in a private mezcal tasting at the hotel’s Tahona Room, the first-ever mezcal tasting room in the city. Oneika’s guide, Julie Wharton, Tahona’s bar manager, explains how the different regions and families of mezcal producers in Mexico infuse each spirit with a unique flavor and story, all of which deepens Oneika’s appreciation for the eating and drinking traditions of Mexico City she thought she knew — and leaves her hungry for more. 

Experience Mexico City’s transformative eating and drinking traditions for yourself. For more about Oneika’s journey — and to get other itinerary ideas — visit Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. To learn more and book a room at the JW Marriott Mexico City Polanco, visit the hotel’s website. Book wellness-inspired activities for yourself at Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities. Marriott Bonvoy members earn points on every experience booked through the site.

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, MNTRA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can watch full videos of each episode on the Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

If you’re enjoying About the Journey, we think you’ll love Longer Tables with Chef José Andrés. Each episode, world renowned chef José Andrés welcomes friends from the worlds of culinary and creative arts, politics and media to pull up a chair at the table. Together, they dig in to find out how food shapes the world and makes us who we are.

This week, we're rolling José’s conversation with Asheville, North Carolina-based chef and restaurateur Katie Button. Katie’s journey started with the moment she decided to leave her PhD in neuroscience to pursue her passion: food. She shares the story of her pivot — and how José’s team took a chance on hiring her. That moment opened up Katie’s world, allowing her to fall in love with the flavors of Spain.

Listen on to hear how Katie nurtured that love to create a Spanish tapas restaurant in Asheville that marries local ingredients with beloved traditional Spanish dishes. 

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, MNTRA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can watch full videos of each episode on the Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Oneika Raymond chats with good friend and fellow expert traveler Monet Hambrick, founder of  the family travel blog The Traveling Child, about the positive benefits of traveling as a family. Together, they offer up tips, tricks and all the tea for how to do family travel right.

Monet started The Traveling Child in 2016 with her husband after an international trip with their 8-month-old first born led to tons of folks wanting to know how they pulled it off. Monet’s been encouraging and advising parents through her blog ever since. Today, she’s a mother of two young kids who’ve traveled to six continents, over 30 countries and counting. 

Oneika hears about Monet's formative travel years and how connecting with people, culture and places around the world has transformed her. Monet shares how she’s instilling this appreciation for connection into her own kids. 

Then, Monet and Oneika get into their top tips and tricks for parents who are not sure how to begin traveling with kids. We find out how to build a trip itinerary that works for the whole family, how to afford to take family trips, and unique ways to engage with locals with your kids. We’re also joined by a surprise guest who shares a special memory from a very unique family trip. 

Ready to book your next family trip? Find the perfect local adventure for your whole family by checking out Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities. Marriott Bonvoy members earn points on every experience booked through the site. 

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, MNTRA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can watch full videos of each episode on the Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Oneika Raymond heads to New Orleans, Louisiana to connect with the people and history of Tremé, one of the oldest Black neighborhoods in the U.S. There, she’ll sit with some of the Tremé culture bearers of music, food and history to build a deeper understanding of the city’s roots. 

Oneika sets off from her hotel, W New Orleans French Quarter. It’s a short commute to her first stop of the day in the Tremé: Kermit’s Tremé Mother in Law Lounge, the last standing jazz lounge in the neighborhood. She meets with Kermit Ruffins, the lounge owner and a beloved musician in his community. He delights Oneika with a song and stories of growing up in the neighborhood where the lively sounds of New Orleans-style jazz were born. 

Next, Oneika heads to the historic Congo Square, once a gathering place for enslaved and free people of color that remains an epicenter of culture within Tremé today. Denise is a seventh generation Creole storyteller and owner of the New Orleans history storytelling company, Our Sacred Stories. Denise gives Oneika a tour of the gathering place nestled in the heart of Louis Armstrong Park to share the customs and traditions born out of Congo Square.

Ready for a meal, Oneika is off to her final stop, the plant-based soul food restaurant, I-tal Garden. There she meets the owner, Chef Joseph “Rah” Robinson for a delicious, home-cooked meal. Chef Rah tells Oneika about his mission to help nourish the bodies within his community by way of his unique, plant-based take on the traditional New Orleans dishes he grew up eating.

Experience the soulful city of New Orleans for yourself. For more about Oneika’s journey — and to get other itinerary ideas — visit Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. To book your stay at W New Orleans, visit the hotel’s website. Book wellness-inspired activities for yourself at Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities. Marriott Bonvoy members earn points on every experience booked through the site.

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, MNTRA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can watch full videos of each episode on the Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Oneika Raymond sits down with solo travel expert Beth Santos, founder of Wanderful, a global travel community for women. Together, they talk about how traveling on your own can be an opportunity for personal growth and share expert tips on how to make the most of your solo travels.

Beth takes a mindset-first approach to traveling solo on your own terms, and recently authored a book that explores her philosophy: Wander Woman: How to Reclaim Your Space, Find Your Voice, and Travel the World, Solo. While traveling solo in São Tomé and Príncipe in 2009, Beth created Wanderful as a travel blog aimed to share the experiences of women traveling the world. Today, it’s a community of over 40,000 travelers.

Oneika learns about how Beth’s first solo trips helped shape her travel philosophy, and how solo travel has made her a more engaged mother and business owner. Beth and Oneika bond over solo travel as a form of self care amidst the many responsibilities of modern life. 

Then, Beth and Oneika dig into their best advice for anyone looking to take a solo trip - from the one item you need to pack, to how to spend your first day on your own, to the questions to ask yourself to figure out where to go on a solo adventure. You’ll also get insider tips on how to meet people on your travels – because solo travel doesn’t have to be lonely.

Ready to book your next solo trip? Find your perfect adventure by checking out Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities. Marriott Bonvoy members earn points on every experience booked through the site.

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, MNTRA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can watch full videos of each episode on the Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Oneika Raymond kick-starts this season in Sedona, Arizona, a desert oasis tucked in the Verde Valley and known for its stunning red rock formations and energy vortices. There, she embarks on a wellness journey to explore how Sedona encourages visitors to slow down to reconnect to themselves. She meets up with three locals who help her tap into Sedona’s must-visit stops to experience self discovery and mindful travel.

Oneika starts her day with a morning hike to Yavapai Vista to meet with Melina Fuhrmann, the owner of SpiritFlow Sedona, a wellness center that helps others reconnect to themselves in this one-of-a-kind place. Melina shares the secrets of Sedona’s energy vortices before leading Oneika through a grounding meditation. 

Then, Oneika and Melina head to the Courtyard Marriott Sedona, for a sit-down conversation about the art of self care. We hear how vital it is to slow down in nature.

Next, Oneika heads to the Palatki Heritage Site, an archaeological site with cliff dwellings and rock art from some of Sedona’s earliest inhabitants. Oneika’s guide, Nick Massoni of the U.S. Forest Service, bridges the past and present by sharing ancient stories of Sedona’s past that help Oneika understand her own legacy. 

As the sun sets over Sedona, Oneika travels to her final stop — a stargazing session with Dave Sanders of Sedona Stargazing. Oneika takes in the starry night sky while learning the impact darkness plays in the desert’s habitat, and on our own busy lives. 

Experience Sedona's transformative power for yourself. For more about Oneika’s journey — and to get other itinerary ideas — visit Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. To learn more and book a room at the Courtyard Marriott Sedona, visit the hotel’s website. Book wellness-inspired activities for yourself at Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities. Marriott Bonvoy members earn points on every experience booked through the site.

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, MNTRA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can watch full videos of each episode on the Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

About the Journey is back! This season, host and travel journalist Oneika Raymond goes on a wellness journey to four distinct places with the power to transform those who come to visit. Join us every other Friday through early October as we mindfully get to know ourselves and the world around us through meaningful, nurturing travel. 

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, MNTRA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can watch full videos of each episode on the Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Oneika Raymond is off to Berlin's neighborhood of Kreuzberg, a thriving multicultural district just south of Mitte, for the final stop on her journey. There, she meets up with Dalad Kambhu, the chef and owner of Michelin-starred Thai restaurant, Kin Dee. Together, they take a walking tour through Kreuzberg to get to know the district, and its large and growing collection of women-led eateries. 

Oneika and Dalad meet each other in front of Kitten Deli, a women-owned breakfast joint that serves Israeli and Middle Eastern fare near to the Landwehr canal. The popular dining spot is located in Kreuzkölln, a small, inviting pocket of Berlin nestled between Kreuzberg and Neukölln that’s become known for its own bustling artistic community. It’s also the perfect gateway into Kreuzberg, just north across the canal.  

Dalad leads Oneika to one of the many walking bridges that cut across the Landwehr canal, stopping to admire the Turkish Market that runs alongside the canal every Tuesday and Friday. Here, visitors can find plenty: spices, fresh eggs, jars of olives, Anatolian dishes and even ornate textiles. It’s a true one-stop shop.

Along the way, we catch up with Dalad’s friend, Ash Lee, owner of Chungking Noodles, a casual spot for spicy, hand-pulled noodles in Kreuzberg. Ash helped Dalad take the leap to move to Berlin and start Kin Dee. Together, the two are devoted to helping other women find their footing in the city’s food industry. 

Then, Dalad and Oneika head into Kreuzberg. While strolling its tree-lined sidewalks, Oneika takes in the neighborhood’s vibrant street-art, plentiful greenspaces, and vintage stores. In no time, we arrive at Markthalle Neun, Dalad’s go-to spot to source local produce for her restaurant. 

But first, the two make a beeline for the food stalls that fill the market hall with delicious smells. It’s lunchtime, and Dalad brings Oneika to one of her favorite spots in the market: Manti Berlin, a women-led, Turkish food stall that serves pillowy, ravioli-like dumplings called ‘manti’. Satisfied, and ready to continue their tour, Dalad and Oneika cut across Markthalle Neun to grab some vegetables for the restaurant — and then, they’re off to Kin Dee, their last stop of the day.

Once at Kin Dee, Dalad and Oneika relax into one of the restaurant's repurposed tables for a sit down conversation about Dalad’s work in Berlin, and her hopes for the city’s burgeoning food scene. Dalad shares how she’s bringing the “spirit” of Thai flavors and cooking techniques to local and sustainable ingredients. And she offers advice to visitors looking to support the diverse, women-led eateries they love and want to see more of.   

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can also watch videos from select episodes on our Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, MNTRA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can watch full videos of each episode on the Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

Oneika Raymond dials into Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, where historian Sherman ‘Dilla’ Thomas takes us on a bus tour through the birthplace of gospel music and Black History Month located just four miles south of the city’s downtown. 

Bronzeville has quickly become the most popular neighborhood tour that Dilla offers through his bus tour company, Chicago Mahogany Tours, thanks in part to the viral TikToks that Dilla makes to illuminate the history and contributions of Bronzeville, formerly known as the Black Metropolis. 

On his tour, Dilla brings the energy of his TikToks, and the stories of Bronzeville, to life. We start out on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, a road steeped in history. The 14-mile long street was renamed for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, making Chicago the first city in the country to name a street after the slain civil rights icon. 

As we drive the thoroughfare, we learn how Chicago’s Black community created its own thriving business and artistic community within its boundaries — which brings us to our next stop on the tour.   

We roll through the Blues district on 47th street, home to the spirit and sounds of the electric Chicago Blues that filled this nightlife corridor in the 1930s. Along the way, Dilla points out the home of jazz great Louis Armstrong, one of a handful of jazz legends who lived in Bronzeville. We end our musical leg of the tour at the birthplace of gospel music, the National Museum of Gospel Music.

For the first time on the tour, we step off the bus at our next stop. We find ourselves standing in front of an impressive monument dedicated to Ida B. Wells Barnett called the “Light of Truth”. The 35-foot tall structure, built to honor the journalist and civil rights activist, is Chicago’s first monument officially designated to a Black woman.

We end the tour at Bronzeville Winery, a neighborhood staple helping to shape a 21st-century version of the metropolis we just toured. Co-owner Cecilia Cuff shares how the winery supports community, from its wine list, which is made up of ​​75 percent minority or women-owned bottles, to the local artists, musicians and staffers it works with daily. 

Then, Dilla heads to the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center for a full-circle conversation with Oneika. They discuss the impact that Bronzeville has had, not only on Chicago, but globally, and talk about the history that's continuing to be made here today. 

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can also watch videos from select episodes on our Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.

About the Journey is a podcast produced by Marriott Bonvoy Traveler, AT WILL MEDIA, MNTRA, and Oneika Raymond. Listen and follow the show here.

To read full episode transcripts from About the Journey and see photos of each featured destination, head to About the Journey on Marriott Bonvoy Traveler. Starting this season, you can watch full videos of each episode on the Marriott Bonvoy YouTube channel.