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 impact. With 42% of destination executives in the study publishing no original content over a three-month period, Greg shares why visibility isn’t about self-promotion — it’s about educating stakeholders, building trust, and showing the value tourism brings to a community.

Caleb and Greg dive into the difference between announcing and educating, why authentic voices outperform corporate messaging, how smaller destinations can compete through storytelling, and practical ways CEOs can start building their personal brand online.

If you’ve ever wondered how to better advocate for tourism, communicate your destination’s impact, or use your voice to create influence, this episode is for you.

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 challenges us to think beyond tourism's traditional metrics of jobs, tax revenue, and economic impact. Instead, he makes the case that travel is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve health, strengthen relationships, foster learning, and enhance overall well-being.

Together, we explore the science behind why vacations reduce stress, how shared travel experiences deepen human connections, and why destination organizations should rethink the way they communicate tourism's value to residents, stakeholders, and elected officials.

Jim also shares why the future of destination marketing isn't just about proving economic return—it's about telling a more human story that connects travel to quality of life and community well-being.

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 an increasingly competitive travel landscape.

From the end of “Anywhere USA” marketing to the rise of unique destination stories, this conversation explores why the future of travel belongs to places that know what makes them different.

🎧 Tune in for a conversation on AI, innovation, and the future of destination marketing.

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 state, build a thriving visitor economy, and create lasting impact for communities large and small.

In this episode, we explore how South Carolina has leveraged research to uncover new opportunities, elevate rural destinations, and create authentic visitor experiences that fuel economic growth. Duane also discusses the importance of understanding today's traveler, why experiences have become the driving force behind destination marketing, and how tourism serves as the front door to business recruitment and community development.

If you're interested in destination strategy, state tourism leadership, and the future of travel, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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 will always outperform raw knowledge, how DMOs can begin using AI with confidence, and why curiosity—not technology—is the true competitive advantage. Mitch shares practical advice for tourism professionals, from using AI to better understand the visitor journey to identifying the right problems before searching for solutions.

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 analytics before leading two of the Southeast's most dynamic destinations. Together, they share how curiosity, strategic thinking, and a commitment to creating value shaped their leadership journeys.

In this episode, we discuss what it means to move beyond producing reports and become a trusted strategic voice, why adding value is the fastest path to career growth, and how servant leadership influences decision-making at the highest levels of destination marketing.

Heath and Stephanie also offer practical advice for emerging tourism professionals, reflect on the realities of leading destination organizations, and share how Greenville and Winston-Salem are building stronger, more vibrant communities through tourism.

If you're interested in leadership, destination strategy, and building a career that creates lasting impact, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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 tourism industry. Megan shares what it's been like stepping into a leadership role at one of North Carolina's most beloved destinations, lessons learned during her first year, and why some of the best ideas in tourism come from small, scrappy destination organizations.

The conversation also dives into mentorship, building trust with stakeholders, creating a culture of ownership, and why friendship often comes before business in the travel industry.

Plus, Megan shares some exciting good news about Wilmington's upcoming destination rebrand and reflects on the "pinch me" moments that make a career in tourism so rewarding.

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 started as a simple problem-solving mindset evolved into a technology company built to help destinations better understand and activate their data.

In this conversation, we go beyond the startup story and into the realities of entrepreneurship in the tourism industry—what it really takes to build a company from scratch, the challenges of scaling through uncertainty, and the lessons learned from navigating COVID, rapid industry change, and evolving technology.

Kelby also reflects on the importance of relationships, competition, and staying customer-focused in an increasingly complex and data-driven tourism landscape. From AI and geolocation shifts to the future of destination analytics, this episode explores where tourism technology is headed—and what founders need to know to keep up.

This is a conversation about resilience, innovation, and the mindset required to turn ideas into lasting impact.

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 relationships and choosing the right sessions to turning inspiration into action back home. They also explore why community is at the heart of DI, how first-time attendees can feel welcome, and the trends shaping the future of destination organizations.

If you're heading to Portland—or simply want to become a better tourism leader—this episode is packed with practical advice to help you make every conversation count.

Register for Give Me Some Good News Karaoke in Portland here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfI1f-_KNpe2EwQServfYKU-4NHyxSqVwyMS2MTrzEgzfmzqQ/viewform

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.

Jeremy shares insights from his work bridging academia and industry, including his perspective on why tourism organizations struggle to turn data into action, how destinations can move beyond reporting into real insight, and why collaboration—not silos—is the future of tourism research.

The conversation also explores Jeremy’s journey from PhD researcher to professor and practitioner, the importance of teaching and lifelong learning, and how the tourism industry can better connect research, storytelling, and real-world strategy.

This episode sets the tone for the TTRA series: thoughtful, honest, and focused on the future of tourism leadership and innovation.