Welcome back to Humans of Travel! We’re back from our winter hiatus, and we’re gearing up to bring you a brand-new season featuring conversations from some of the most innovative and inspiring voices in travel.

Our first guest is Beth Santos, the founder of Wanderful, a virtual and in-person community of more than 40,000 women of diverse ages and backgrounds, all connected through their love of travel. Santos has been recognized by Business Insider as one of 17 Changemakers Transforming the Hospitality Industry, and she’s been named as one of 12 Inspiring People to Follow by Conde Nast Traveler.

She’s a self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur and community builder who has set out to disrupt travel for women worldwide, starting Wanderful during her time living off the coast of Western Africa. Since then, it’s morphed into a robust member community with online resources and education, along with chapter events in more than 50 global cities.

In this episode of Humans of Travel, Santos gives her take on women’s place in travel planning and decision making, and what society gets wrong about female travel (hint: it doesn’t follow the “Taken narrative”). She also takes listeners through her own journey, from the early days of blogging about Sao Tome and Principe to the evolution of Wanderful and what it offers its community of members.

Know a great Human of Travel who has a compelling story to share? Send us an email at [email protected].

RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Wanderful

Santos’ website

Santos on LinkedIn

Santos on Instagram: @maximumbeth

Santos’ recent favorite book: The Last Resort

Santos’ podcast: 85%

ABOUT YOUR HOST 

Emma Weissmann is the Managing Editor of TravelAge West, a print magazine and website for travel advisors based in the Western U.S. She is also the co-host of Trade Secrets, a podcast created with sister publication Travel Weekly. 

TravelAge West also produces national trade publications Explorer and Family Getaways, as well as events including the Future Leaders in Travel Retreat, Global Travel Marketplace West, the WAVE Awards gala and the Napa Valley Leadership Forum. 

ABOUT THE SHOW 

TravelAge West’s podcast, “Humans of Travel,” features conversations with exceptional people who have compelling stories to tell. Listeners will hear from the travel industry’s notable authorities, high-profile executives, travel advisors and rising stars as they share the experiences — the highs and the lows — that make them human.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.