I Wonder If

If we’re paying attention at the right moment, life often brings us opportunities to follow our dreams. Today’s guest, Robert Gaglio, shares how losing his day job and visiting an Italian Villa changed his life. Robert now runs a business out of Italy where he cooks, travels, and explores the intricacies of Italy with guests. Robert discusses what led him to becoming a chef, the experiences he’s had over his career, and what makes his tours special. 

Join Mona McGregor to learn more about Robert’s story and how you can make the most out of your travel experiences. 

Show Highlights: 

• How Robert got started cooking 
• The story of how Robert started his career as a chef 
• What inspired Robert to start cooking in Italy 
• The difference between the experience and going to a restaurant 
• Why Robert is getting dual citizenship in Italy 
• How Robert came up with and structured the 3 different tours 
• Robert shares local experiences he curated through relationships 
• How the pandemic impacted Robert’s business 
• Ways traveling has changed 
• Robert shares what it’s like to be an entrepreneur in a foreign country
• Creating an authentic menu that people won’t be intimidated by 
• The difference between pinball traveling and enjoying the experience 
• Roberts next “I Wonder If”
• Robert shares why he’s going to stay in Florida when he retires 
• How Robert built his platform 
• What makes gelato more flavorful 

Links: 

https://www.facebook.com/ItalianCulinaryTours/

https://www.instagram.com/italianculinarytours/

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCx3WMQ0WCPS42Bp6rO8LxRA

https://www.italianculinarytours.com/

Resources: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-i-built-this-with-guy-raz/id1150510297

Sometimes finding ourselves takes more than looking in the mirror. Many of us have to undergo a series of internal exploration, external change, and an abundance of effort to truly find our happiness. 

In today’s interview, Mojca Korcula, shares her journey of becoming a yoga instructor and how life led her to find her passion. She discusses the process she had to experience in order to discover what her purpose truly was and how she emotionally found peace. 

Mojca also discusses her current retreats and the yoga events she hosts on holidays and weekends. Her classes take place on the beautiful coast of Croatia, where she has curated a magical and rejuvenating experience for her guests. To hear more about Mojca’s story and the fascinating work she’s doing, join Mona in this interview. 

Show Highlights: 

• Mojca shares what it was like to grow up traveling 
• How Mojca discovered her passion 
• Mojca shares her emotional journey to finding her purpose 
• Practices Mojca learned in studying yoga 
• How Mojca’s yoga instructor inspired her to begin teaching 
• Why retreats are so recharging for women 
• How Mojca creates an inviting and safe environment at retreats 
• How is Mojca leading a virtual retreat 
• The impact of being thankful and letting go of control 
• The importance of listening to your emotions 
• Taking time to absorb nature 
• Appreciating the abundance of natures gifts 
• How Mojca designed her retreats 

Links: 

https://www.joy-of-mediterranean.com

https://www.facebook.com/joyofmediterranean

We all know Paris as the city of love, sensuality, and lights. Today’s interview takes place in none other than Paris itself. Babette de la Butte is a singer, actress and Burlesque performer from Western Canada. She’s been in Paris for over 12 years, and had pushed the boundaries as a Burlesque dancer. She shares what her experience as a performer have been like, her favorite parts of Paris, how to take what you learn to the bedroom, and so much more. This episode explores the elements of freedom and play in both Paris and Burlesque. 

Babette de la Butte is a vivacious performer who hosts, sings, and indulges in burlesque in equal measures. A trained actress and singer originally from Canada, Babette is a bombastic entertainer who regularly performs her signature Sing & Strip numbers around her adopted home of Paris, France. In addition to the Le Bisou Francais Festival in Paris, she has also performed at the Slipper Room in New York as well as at the Show-Me Burlesque Festival in St Louis. 

As a member of Burlesque Moulin, Paris’s bilingual burlesque troupe, Babette was a regular feature and co-producer of their monthly Burlesque Brunch show, Croissants & Corsets. Honing her skills as a singing performer, Babette has also proved herself to be a saucy and energetic emcee, engaging audiences in English and French with humour and wit. 

Be Bold with Babette, a confidence class with a touch of burlesque, is held regularly in Paris and gives women the chance to make strong choices in a fun, supportive atmosphere. Perfect for groups, this workshop gives women the opportunity to reconnect with their bodies and discover what they love about themselves. Shimmy away the shame with Babette in Paris! For more info, swivel those hips over to https://www.babettedelabutte.com

Show Highlights: 

• What brought Babette to Paris 
• Babette shares what performers and styles most resonate with her 
• How you can embrace yourself and bring that to the stage 
• How to play the moment of anticipation 
• The empowerment of making your own choices 
• Babette shares her upcoming “I wonder if’s”
• Creating a safe space for people to push their boundaries 
• Getting rid of the shoulds 
• Exploring and embracing your femininity 
• Advice for men to make their partners feel more sensual 
• The hottest spots in Paris for a date night 
• Being open and curious 

Links: 

https://iwonderifpodcast.com

[email protected] 

Are you a keen traveler? If so, have you ever worked as a WOOFer? Today, we are excited to be talking to Carsten Schafer! Carsten travels the world with a mission to eat and explore! He is a chef, a WOOFer, a worldwide traveler, an artist, and the founder of the website eatnxplore. 

Carsten comes from Germany, and he is an enthusiastic traveler with a limited budget. WOOF stands for Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms. It is a platform that operates in various countries, giving willing workers the chance to help out on organic farms in return for their accommodation. WOOFing allows travelers to gain experience in organic farming and learn from the locals of each area. Carsten loves the idea of giving and taking without any money getting exchanged. Be sure to stay tuned today to hear his deliciously inspiring story! 

Show highlights:

• Carsten has been at Rock ‘n Roots Organic Farm several times. He explains what makes that place so special.
• Carsten discusses his unique process for preparing remarkably tender and tasty meat.
• Carsten shares his “I wonder if…” moment.
• Carsten talks about the point in 2016 when everything in his life broke down.
• Getting some sage advice from his mentor helped him prepare himself for his travels.
• Carsten discusses his education in an apprenticeship program in the culinary field in Germany.
• How he developed a love for cooking as a kid through helping his mother in the kitchen.
• The people who influenced and encouraged Carsten.
• Carsten has had some very interesting and extreme adventures. He talks to us about his crazy trip to see the Northern Lights.
• Carsten talks about his Jeep, which he designed for cooking.
• A story that stands out for him.
• Carsten shares his experience working as a chef for some bands on the road.
• The rituals and routines that have helped him stay on his unique path.
• The three key ingredients that every kitchen should have.
• Carsten shares his current “I wonder if…”.

Links and resources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zE9ZaOwcgbE&feature=share

To follow Carsten’s adventure, go to Instagram

                                                     YouTube    

                                                     Website   

Webpage for Donation: https://eatnxplore.com/spenden/

Trip to Yellowknife Links:

Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVlEKmex-Yw

Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XI07gm8EjBY

Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WV5RWKOZADk

Video cooking for homeless: https://youtu.be/zE9ZaOwcgbE

Connecting with nature can bring major transformation for anyone looking for it. What many people don’t know, is that horses also have the power to help us center our identity. 

Today’s guest, Kari Fulmek, runs a horse therapy center and horse workshops to help women find balance within themselves. Kari is an energetic and dynamic woman who shares what inspired her to work with horses and the impact this journey has had on her life. 

Tune into this episode to learn more about the power of equine therapy and the impact it can have on your life. 

Show Highlights: 

• Kari shares her first “I wonder if” 
• What inspired Kari to get involved with horses 
• Ways Kari helped other women feel empowered
• What is the authentic you women’s workshop 
• The power of working with horses 
• What women come in to achieve through the workshop 
• How horses can change people 
• The difference between equine therapy and equine assisted learning 
• How horses can teach us to be more present 
• How you have a partnership with a horse instead of using a horse
• Exercises used at workshops 
• Moving through loss 
• How Kari used pain to transform the program 
• Kari shares the behind the scenes of people she works with 
• How connections are made at workshops 
• How women build connections with other women 
• Important things to know when hosting a retreat
• The power of having an intention piece
• The importance of prioritizing self-care 
• Maintaining relationships during busy schedules 
• The most important elements of a retreat 
• Kari’s next “I wonder if”

Links: 

More Information on the Transformational Retreat Feb 4-7, 2021: https://iwonderifpodcast.com

[email protected]

Are you familiar with the history of Champagne? Would you like to find out about the wines of the area? We’re in gorgeous Epernay today, in the Champagne region of France, and we’re honored to be interviewing Peter Liem, the esteemed wine expert behind ChampagneGuide.net, and the only English-speaking wine writer in the Champagne region. Peter is the author of Champagne, a ground-breaking guide to the modern wines of the region that uniquely explores the legendary wine.

In today’s episode, Peter shares his journey, he explains how to find and appreciate the meaning in wine, and he talks about the vintage vineyard maps that are included with his book in a luxurious package. Stay tuned for more!

Peter Liem is an American wine writer and the author of ChampagneGuide.net. Following nearly a decade in the wine trade, he became a senior editor, critic, and tasting director for Wine & Spirits. His writings on sherry, champagne, and other wines have also appeared in publications such as The World of Fine Wine, The Art of Eating, and The San Francisco Chronicle. Join us today, to hear his story, and get to see the world of Champagne through his expert lens. 

Show highlights:

• The moment that led Peter to where he is today.
• Although he travels a lot, Champagne remains Peter’s primary home.
• Peter’s book, Champagne, is like the Encyclopedia Britannica of Champagne. 
• The story behind the super-rare vintage maps.
• The common denominator of Champagne terroir is not the vineyard. It's the village.
• Wine is a reflection of the winemaker.
• Nature doesn’t make wine, humans do.
• The proper way to assess wine.
• Wine without context is almost meaningless.
• How people’s view of Champagne has changed in the last twenty years.
• By law, in Champagne, all the grapes have to be hand-picked. 
• The right temperature for wines.
• Champagne pairs perfectly with all kinds of food.

Links and resources:

Peter Liem at ChampagneGuide.net

Peter Liem on Instagram

Peter Liem on Twitter

Peter Liem’s book Champagne

Champagne [Boxed Book & Map Set]: The Essential Guide to the Wines, Producers, and Terroirs of the Iconic Region by Amazon.com

Learn more

Leclerc Briant Champagne Abyss 2014 - Well of wine.pdf

Nature connects us to ourselves and others in a way nothing else can. However, we often take the beautiful landscapes and places around us for granted. 

Today’s guest, Clyde Butcher is a renowned black and white landscape photographer who has used his abilities to bring environmental issues to the forefront of public consciousness. 

In this episode, he shares what inspired him to become a nature photographer, the many experiences and unique people he’s encountered, as well as the political aspects of combatting environmental issues. 

Tune into this episode to hear more about Clyde’s amazing story and the beauty that’s in your own backyard. 

Show Highlights: 

• Clyde shares what inspired him to become a nature photographer 
• Why Clyde started doing color photography in the 70’s 
• Clyde shares unique experiences he’s had as a photographer 
• How Clyde uses his tours to support the educational system at Cypress 
• Why everyone should make choices to be more environmentally friendly 
• Organizations that are making positive environmental change and how other organizations could improve 
• Clyde explains what compelled him to do black and white photography
• Clyde discusses other artists he derives inspiration from
• Clyde shares how tragic loss has shifted his life and art
• Clyde shares many anecdotes and special guests from his swamp tours 
• What Clyde’s favorite plants to photograph are and why 
• How Clyde travels to different locations and finds places to shoot
• What makes Clyde’s marriage of 57 years so successful
• Clyde shares his favorite photos in his home 
• What you should do to optimize and love living in Florida
• Where the perfect view to wake up to every morning would be 
• Current issues that are occurring with the environmental climate 
• Where Clyde wants to travel to 
• Best places to paddleboard in Florida
• Clyde’s current “I wonder if…”

Links: 

https://clydebutcher.com

How would you like to own a piece of paradise? And raise a family there? We’re on the historical Gulf-Coast island of Cabbage Key today, and we have the great pleasure of interviewing Rob Wells. Rob’s family owns Cabbage Key and the Tarpon Lodge. In today’s episode, Rob shares some wonderful stories and gives us a taste of what it was like for him to grow up on a pristine, historical Gulf-Coast island. Stay tuned to find out more!

Cabbage Key is like paradise, and the only way to reach it is by boat. Rob’s parents bought the island in 1976, and Rob and his brother, Ken, grew up there. The family has been running the business for the last forty-three years, and they added Tarpon Lodge in 1999. Now, the family is known as some of the most memorable purveyors of paradise on the Gulfshore. Be sure to listen in today, to hear Rob’s unusual and delightful story!

Show highlights:

• Rob shares the moment when his dream became a reality.
• Commuting to school by boat.
• Rob had a pretty cool childhood, growing up on the island.
• Why Rob’s parents were the real risk-takers.
• Rob’s parents achieved a lot from working hard.
• Rob watched his parents at work daily, growing up.
• Rob had some doubts about the family business when he was younger.
• According to Rob’s research, Cabbage Key was probably more populated a thousand years ago than it is now.
• Rob’s family feels more like stewards of the property, for this moment in time than like the owners of the island.
• Letting the island speak for itself.
• Memories of growing up on the island.
• People who are boaters, and who go to places like Cabbage Key, are usually pretty interesting.
• Going to school by boat.
• Going to university and moving to the city.
• Some of the unique challenges of owning an island and running a resort.
• Maintaining a delicate balance on the island.
• The wonderful story behind the dollar bills on the wall in the bar.
• An interesting tale about the area.
• The history of Tarpon Lodge.
• Rob’s favorite places to go in Fort Myers.

Links and resources:

Tarpon Lodge

The Veranda Restaurant in Fort Myers

Caffe Toscano in Fort Myers

http://cabbagekey.com/

https://instagram.com/cabbage_key

Are you an artist, or an art lover? If so, what inspires you? We’re on Matlacha Island today, at the gallery of the renowned impressionist-expressionist artist, Leoma Lovegrove. Leoma is known all over the world for her bold and brightly colored paintings. In today’s show, she talks about traveling to France, how cancer has affected her life, and about her passion for painting. Be sure to join us today, to find out more about Leoma, her paintings, and the miracles she’s experienced in her life.

Leoma is a graduate of the prestigious Ringling School of Art, in Florida, and her works are displayed in numerous galleries across the United States. She was honored at an artist’s reception at the White House that was held by the First Lady, Laura Bush, and some of her works of art are in President George W. Bush’s Presidential Library in Dallas, Texas. Some of her artworks are in the private collection of the White House, in Washington, DC, and she has done a portrait of Jimmy Carter, which hangs in his Presidential Library in Atlanta, Georgia. Her art has also appeared in the windows of the Rockefeller Center in New York. Leoma was commissioned to paint a portrait of Richard Branson, for the headquarters of Virgin Airlines, in London. And she was the first American ever to enjoy the high honor and privilege of painting on the Seine River, in a boat that is a replica of Claude Monet’s floating studio. Be sure to listen in today, to hear Leoma’s unique, inspiring, and uplifting story. 

Show highlights:

• Leoma discusses how everything came about for her.
• Leoma talks about her painting groups in Monet’s gardens in Giverny.
• Comparing Giverny with Matlacha.
• Leoma is planning to do a legacy piece.
• Leoma explains why she loves France so much.
• The awful impact of cancer on her life.
• The effect of going public with her story.
• Painting coconuts pink to raise awareness about cancer.
• Rosaries and prayers have helped Leoma to heal.
• Experiencing healing miracles on four occasions.
• Painting as a self-care practice.
• Printing her art on clothing has made her art more mainstream.
• Why Leoma loves living in Matlacha.
• Fishing from inside her house.
• The definition of an artist.
• Leoma is on a mission to make Matlacha a historical town.
• For the love of hurricanes, thunder, and iguanas.

Links and resources:

Leoma’s website

Leoma on Shopify – Leoma Lovegrove.Store

Sorry, world, here we come! Today, we’re in New Orleans! It’s Valentine’s Day, it’s Mardi Gras, and we’re interviewing the Traveler Broads! Jessica Fender and Kerry Maloney are the New Orleans-based, globe-trotting twosome who teamed up several years ago as the Traveler Broads, to “scam” their way into travel opportunities and fulfill their mission in life to explore new places. The New Orleans Mardi Gras is unlike any other American holiday. In today’s episode, Fender and Maloney talk to us about what they are doing, and some of the exciting things that happen, both at the Mardi Gras and in New Orleans. Stay tuned to find out more!

This episode was recorded in February 2020, before the lockdown. In March, when the lockdown started, the Traveler Broads, needed to find something to keep them amused. So they decided to create the Quarantine History YouTube series to explore some of the lesser-known characters from New Orleans’ rich past. Fender and Maloney’s acting is absurdly funny, and their shows incorporate visual jokes, homemade sound-effects, and improvised costumes from their vast, personal collections. Be sure to tune in today, to hear about the antics of this crazy writer/photographer duo, at the New Orleans Mardi Gras.

Show highlights:

• The Traveler Broads share their thoughts about Valentine's Day.
• What a romantic event, planned by each of the Traveler Broads, would look like.
• It’s hard to get dinner reservations at a good restaurant during Mardi Gras, particularly on Valentine’s Day.
• You should see at least one of the wonderful walking parades at the Mardi Gras!
• What you will experience in the Traveler Broads’ Mardi Gras headdress class.
• Some tips and tricks for creating awesome costumes.
• Fender and Maloney share their “I wonder if…” moments.
• The Traveler Broads discuss their interactive field-guide to Mardi Gras.
• How the Mardi Gras differs from any other American holiday.
• Ordering the best king cake ever in New Orleans!
• What it’s like, being part of the unique New Orleans community, and living in the fabulous French Quarter.
• Learning to say “cheers” in five different languages.
• Maloney’s most annoying travel habit.
• What you need to pack if you’re a chic traveler.
• Some advice for people who want to follow the Traveler Broads’ footsteps.
• Some of the best restaurants and bars in New Orleans.
• There’s a secret Mardi Gras museum upstairs, at Arnaud’s Restaurant.
• The top five things to do in New Orleans.

Links and resources:

Traveler Broads Website  

Traveler Broads on Facebook

Traveler Broads on Instagram  

Interactive Field-Guide

Dong Phuong Bakery

Antoine’s Restaurant

Galatoire’s Restaurant

Arnaud’s Restaurant

Commander’s Palace

Jewel of the South

Margie’s Cafe

Compere Lapin

Two Chicks Walking Tours