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A rainy Boston morning set the scene, but the real weather shift happens in the story: an English major boards her first commercial flight to Alaska at 19, discovers how far a duffel and a daring heart can go, and eventually returns to writing through the heat of a private kitchen. We trace Melanie’s winding path from private chef to freelance food-and-travel journalist, and how curiosity—not credentials—became the map legend for every bold turn.

We dig into the messy art of pitching that school didn’t teach well enough, why perfection slowed her down, and how a personal touch can cut through a crowded inbox. Then the narrative dives—literally—into the Galápagos, where a sea lion taught her the power of attention and play, and resurfaces in Iceland with fermented shark, sheep-dung–smoked whiskey, and the kind of hospitality that sticks. Along the way, we unpack travel trends with substance: detours that counter overtourism without diluting wonder, a resurgence of first-person narratives that invite empathy, and multigenerational trips that strengthen family bonds through shared discovery.

Closer to home, Melanie opens a notebook of Boston recommendations that skip the obvious, from a lingering tapa night in the Seaport to a moody Beacon Hill hideaway, thermal cycling sessions in Revere, Mass Audubon’s overlooked greenways, and a Woburn spot hosting a chestnut festival and a $22 three-course lunch. She shares what she seeks on hosted trips, why perseverance is the freelancer’s quiet superpower, and the one dream that keeps resurfacing: flying a fighter jet. If you care about travel that feels honest, food that carries culture and pitching that respects people, you’ll find tools, stories and surprises you can use. Enjoy the journey, then tap follow, share with a curious friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us.

Connect with Melanie at LinkedIN or website. 

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Joe Sills never expected to become a travel writer. Growing up in a small town in West Tennessee surrounded by cotton fields and limited horizons, he couldn't imagine that the places he saw on Discovery Channel would one day become his workplace. After a winding path that included dropped college courses, pizza delivery and graphic design, a workplace shooting became the catalyst that pushed him back toward journalism and eventually into a career documenting some of the world's most remote and vulnerable places.

What began as simple wanderlust – "planting flags and checking off countries" as he candidly admits – evolved into something far more meaningful. Today, Sills focuses his camera and storytelling abilities on conservation efforts, sustainable tourism initiatives and giving voice to communities on the frontlines of human-wildlife conflict. His work in places like Nepal's tiger territory and Bolivia's high-altitude flamingo habitats goes beyond typical travel coverage to document the complex relationships between local communities, wildlife and environmental challenges.

Perhaps most moving is Sills' recent expedition to Svalbard in the Arctic Circle, where he helped lead children with special needs on a transformative adventure. Many had never left their hometowns, let alone experienced the wonder of snowball fights amid pristine Arctic landscapes. For Sills, these moments represent the culmination of his professional evolution – using travel as a vehicle for transformation rather than mere escapism.

As the travel industry faces mounting concerns about sustainability and environmental impact, Sills offers balanced perspective on both challenges and opportunities. He expresses serious reservations about mass tourism models like massive cruise ships while celebrating smaller, more sustainable alternatives. His upcoming projects – documenting Nepal's tourism dynamics and participating in endangered species reintroduction in South Africa – demonstrate his ongoing commitment to using journalism as a force for conservation awareness. Through it all, his philosophy remains refreshingly simple: "If I can take my camera and my words and shine a spotlight on someone who doesn't have the tools to tell their story, whether it's an animal or a person – that's what I want to do."

Read Joe's Tiger story here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joesills/2024/07/28/camping-with-tigers-brings-curious-travelers-to-bardiya-in-nepal/ 

Connect with Joe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joesills/?hl=en 

Listen to past episodes of The Get Lost podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/get-lost-podcast/id1466710154 

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Ever wondered what it takes to carve out a sustainable career in the ultra-competitive world of sports journalism? Yahoo Sports breaking news writer Ian Casselberry pulls back the curtain on his remarkable 15-year journey through some of sports media's biggest names.

Casselberry's path defies conventional wisdom. Starting with a personal blog while at the University of Iowa, he gradually gained recognition from established publications like the Detroit Free Press before landing roles at SB Nation, Bleacher Report, Sports Illustrated and now Yahoo Sports. His story offers a masterclass in persistence and adaptability in an industry where traditional career ladders have largely disappeared.

What truly sets Casselberry apart is his ability to maintain genuine passion for sports despite the daily grind. "I do still love sports," he shares. "That is the fuel, that is the juice... what gets me going on writing." This authentic enthusiasm shines through in his storytelling approach, where he weaves cultural references and personality into breaking news coverage. From the Dodgers' 2020 World Series run to the recent Paris Olympics, Casselberry has witnessed sports history while producing 20-25 stories weekly for Yahoo's massive audience.

The conversation delivers practical wisdom for media professionals at any stage: finding unique angles within crowded news cycles, blending personal voice with professional standards, handling editorial feedback constructively and balancing audience demands with creative instincts. Casselberry's journey proves that while the path may not be linear, those with determination and adaptability can build lasting careers telling the stories that connect us all.

Ready to dive deeper into the world of sports media? Follow Ian on social platforms @ian_cass. 

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The power of storytelling lies not just in whose stories are told, but in who gets to tell them. For Adria Walker, a seventh-generation Mississippian and race and equity journalist for The Guardian, this understanding forms the foundation of her approach to reporting on Indigenous communities across the Deep South.

Walker's journey began with an unlikely childhood inspiration—the classic film "His Girl Friday" sparked her passion for journalism at just five years old. That early fascination evolved into a career defined by amplifying overlooked voices, particularly from her home state that's often misunderstood by outsiders. "Mississippi is the butt of everyone's jokes," Walker notes. "People have this idea of a state they've never visited, idea of people they've never seen." This experience of being prejudged has profoundly shaped her reporting philosophy: approaching every interview without preconceptions, letting subjects guide conversations, and seeking to understand communities on their own terms.

After starting as a teenage intern at a local alt-weekly, Walker's path took her through sociology studies, freelancing and reporting in upstate New York before returning to Mississippi to cover Gullah Geechee communities and other Indigenous groups for The Guardian. Her reporting methodology emphasizes genuine human connection—striking up conversations at gas stations, attending community events even when not reporting and building relationships that extend beyond single stories. This approach has yielded rich dividends, with stories naturally "snowballing" as community members recognize her commitment and share more leads.

Walker balances reporting on difficult subjects by prioritizing self-care and seeking stories that highlight joy alongside challenges. "If you're burning yourself out, you're not helping the communities you're reporting on," she explains. Her advice to aspiring journalists, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, focuses on both mastering fundamentals and showing up consistently: "You have to learn the basics, but you also have to show up for people."

Discover how authentic, community-centered journalism can challenge stereotypes and elevate voices that deserve to be heard. Follow Adria's work at The Guardian or connect with her on social media @adriawalker to see how she's reshaping narratives about the Deep South.

Check out Adria's recent articles here: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/adria-r-walker

Indigenous tattoo revitalization 

Clarksdale, Miss grocery store 

Gullah Geechee partnership with Lowcountry food bank story

Gullah Gullah Island story

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Step into the world of global storytelling with Mark Johanson, an American journalist who's crafted a remarkable career from his base in Santiago, Chile. With bylines in National Geographic, Travel + Leisure, The Guardian and CNN, Mark takes us beyond the typical travel narrative to share how location, language and cultural immersion shape authentic storytelling.

Mark reveals the pivotal moment that transformed his career path—a quarter-life crisis that propelled him from New York's film industry into travel blogging and eventually professional journalism. His perspective on living and working in South America offers fascinating insights into how geographical positioning creates unique opportunities. "The good thing about being based in a random part of the world is that work often comes organically to you," he explains, describing how this advantage helps him tell stories that might otherwise go unexplored.

The conversation delves into Mark's methodical approach to discovering hidden destinations, from reading local-language news sources to maintaining comprehensive lists of emerging trends. We journey alongside him to remote corners of Peru's ancient  Qhapaq Ñan road network and Armenia's burgeoning wine country. These experiences highlight his commitment to spotlighting underreported regions and cultures that deserve attention beyond the typical tourist circuit.

Perhaps most compelling is the story behind his book "Mars on Earth"—born from a moment of stark contrast during Chile's 2019 social uprising when he found himself sipping champagne on a luxury hotel rooftop while protesters below faced tear gas. This jarring juxtaposition launched a 1,200-mile journey through Chile's Atacama Desert that became both geographical exploration and personal reckoning. Mark's thoughtful reflections on responsible tourism and the importance of supporting destinations in the Global South offer valuable perspective for travelers seeking more meaningful connections with the places they visit.

Curious about Mark's adventures or want writing inspiration? Follow him @markonthemap across social platforms or visit markjohanson.com to explore his portfolio spanning guidebooks, magazine features and environmental reporting.

Purchase Mark's book here. 

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What happens when you tell your academic advisor you "just want to travel the world and get paid for it"? For Skye Sherman, it launched a successful career as a travel writer and journalist whose bylines appear in Travel + Leisure, Southern Living, US News and World Report and Palm Beach Illustrated.

In this fascinating conversation, Skye reveals how she transformed from an undeclared college major to a respected voice in travel journalism. Rather than following a traditional career path, she created her own way forward, initially thinking she wanted to be a travel influencer before discovering her true passion for writing for established publications. "I've been making it up as I go," she admits, yet her approach has clearly worked.

Today, Skye has cultivated relationships with editors who regularly assign her stories while still pitching her own ideas. She writes Palm Beach Illustrated's "New and Now" section, contributes Florida and cruise content to major travel publications, and occasionally takes on lucrative content marketing projects. All while pursuing her ambitious personal goal of visiting every country in the world by age 60 (she's currently at about 51 countries).

We dive into Skye's organizational strategies (she's "obsessively organized" with a non-negotiable inbox zero policy), her advice for PR professionals (pitch in the exact style of headlines she already writes), and her surprising background as a pilot who earned her license at 18. She also shares memorable destinations, including Michigan's car-free Mackinac Island and her recent sailing adventure through the British Virgin Islands.

For aspiring travel writers, Skye offers candid advice based on her own journey, including what she might have done differently. This conversation provides a rare glimpse into the life of a successful travel journalist and shows how passion, persistence and organization can build a career that spans the globe.

Connect with Skye at [email protected]; IG: @skyesherman; FB: Skye Sherman and LinkedIn. 

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Veteran journalist Pam LeBlanc takes us behind the scenes of her remarkable journey from newspaper columnist to freelance adventure writer in this captivating conversation about authentic outdoor storytelling and responsible tourism. After 32 years in newspapers, Pam made the leap to freelance writing in 2018, focusing exclusively on the muddy, mosquito-bitten adventures that fuel her passion for nature.

"I only want to write about stuff that I have personally experienced myself and I can write about with authority," Pam explains, setting herself apart from writers who compile stories from behind desks. This philosophy has taken her scuba diving with 200 hammerhead sharks in the Galapagos, rappelling down 38-story buildings, dog sledding above the Arctic Circle in Sweden and hiking through the normally inaccessible Santa Elena Canyon during drought conditions.

While Pam's byline appears in prestigious publications like Condé Nast Traveler and Texas Monthly, she remains particularly proud of her work highlighting the natural wonders of Texas. She shares thoughtful perspectives on responsible tourism, encouraging travelers to respect local cultures, seek out less-crowded alternatives to Instagram-famous destinations, use public transportation when possible and always be mindful of environmental impact.

Perhaps most inspirational is Pam's advice for "injecting adventure into everyday life." Her number one tip? "Get your hair wet." This simple phrase encapsulates her philosophy that too many people, especially women, watch adventures from the sidelines rather than fully participating. At 61, she leads by example through her active lifestyle and upcoming trips to France, Colorado and Antarctica, proving age is no barrier to adventure.

Discover more about Pam's adventures and follow her journey at PamLeBlancAdventures.com or AustinTravels.com. Whether you're planning your next outdoor expedition or simply seeking inspiration to step outside your comfort zone, Pam's stories will ignite your sense of adventure and appreciation for the natural world.

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When Brian Major accidentally "fell into" travel journalism after covering home furnishings, he couldn't have imagined it would lead to a remarkable career spanning over two decades of Caribbean expertise. His journey from cruise editor to public relations director and back to journalism offers a fascinating window into how travel media has evolved.

During our conversation, Brian offers rare insights from his current role as Managing Editor of Digital Guides and Publications at Travel Pulse, where he's remained for 15 years covering 32 Caribbean nations. His methodical approach to finding stories—monitoring local Caribbean newspapers, nurturing relationships with tourism boards and embarking on monthly press trips—demonstrates the dedication required in specialized travel journalism. This comprehensive approach ensures travel advisors receive accurate, timely information that serves both their business needs and their clients' travel aspirations.

The conversation takes unexpected turns as Brian shares personal favorites among Caribbean destinations. His special appreciation for Nevis stems from its quiet, unspoiled beauty, while Jamaica earns his praise for remarkable geographical diversity—"mountains, rivers, beautiful beaches, as well as great culture." His perspective on travel advisories offers balanced wisdom: take warnings seriously but contextualize them, understanding that millions visit Caribbean destinations safely each year by exercising the same caution they would anywhere unfamiliar. As someone with Caribbean heritage, Brian's connection to the region adds meaningful depth to his reporting, contributing to his awards from the Caribbean Tourism Organization and Jamaica Tourist Board. Looking ahead, he identifies exclusive villa accommodations and diverse cruising options as major post-pandemic trends reshaping Caribbean travel. 

Connect with Brian at bmajortraveling on Instagram to follow his continuing Caribbean adventures and gain insights that go beyond the beaches.

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Ever wondered what it's like to lock eyes with a wild gorilla or swim alongside marine iguanas that snort salt to regulate their bodies? Jessica Kelly takes us behind the scenes of her fascinating career as a wildlife travel journalist and photographer, revealing how an unexpected path led her from psychology studies to documenting life on all seven continents.

Jessica's story begins not with journalism school, but with a simple food blog called "It's Pop, Not Soda" that unexpectedly opened doors to food competitions and cookbook collaborations. When COVID claimed her event planning job, she transformed crisis into opportunity, taking over a travel section for a local newspaper focusing on nature-based destinations. The turning point came during a life-changing trip to Botswana during green season, where witnessing mothers with their baby elephants and lionesses hunting together left her forever changed. "It was just incredibly moving," Jessica reflects, "I felt like a different person after that trip."

We dive deep into Jessica's most memorable wildlife encounters, from exploring the Galapagos Islands (where she insists everyone must snorkel) to trekking with gorillas in Rwanda and spotting tigers on safari in India. She offers practical wisdom on balancing healthy fear with respect when photographing powerful creatures, selecting ethical tour operators, and the gear she uses to capture her stunning images—from her Sony camera to her strategically chosen mini drone that skirts weight restrictions in many places.

What distinguishes Jessica's approach is her authentic passion combined with journalistic persistence. She shares candidly about the less glamorous aspects of travel writing—the constant adaptation required, pitching stories for a year before getting a response, and finding unique angles when everyone on a press trip experiences the same activities. For those following in her footsteps or working with travel media, her advice is invaluable: allow time for organic discovery, lead with timely angles and never lose the excitement that makes each destination special.

Follow Jessica's adventures on Instagram at AdventuresAreWaiting as she embarks on upcoming expeditions with National Geographic to Portugal's Azores, Alaska for grizzly bear photography and French Polynesia for her first scuba certification. Her story reminds us that the most rewarding paths are often the unexpected ones.

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What happens when a successful lawyer decides to follow her passion for storytelling and takes her family on a year-long journey around the world? Heather Greenwood Davis shares this remarkable story of transformation, revealing how visiting 29 countries across six continents with her husband and young sons forever changed their perspective on what matters in life.

As the first Black woman to have travel columns in both of Canada's national newspapers, Heather brings a refreshing authenticity to travel journalism. She discusses her unconventional career path from journalism school to law practice to award-winning travel writer, explaining how becoming a mother prompted her to reassess her professional direction and ultimately return to her first love – storytelling.

The heart of our conversation explores how Heather approaches travel narratives differently. Rather than deciding on stories before arrival, she allows destinations to reveal themselves organically, focusing on human connections that transcend cultural differences. Whether giving her child a timeout on a mountain in Peru or discovering Portugal before it became trendy, her experiences highlight universal truths about family, connection and personal growth.

We also delve into the practical aspects of travel journalism – from the challenges of group press trips to the current political climate affecting cross-border reporting. Heather provides candid insights about working with PR professionals, maintaining one's authentic voice and finding meaning through global exploration. Despite her public persona across print, television and digital platforms, she reveals she's actually an introvert who carefully balances engagement with necessary personal recharging time.

Connect with Heather on Instagram @byheatherGD or through her website www.heathergreenwooddavis.com to follow her continuing adventures in global storytelling that bridge cultures and celebrate our shared humanity.

Please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to the Media in Minutes podcast here or anywhere you get your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/media-in-minutes/id1555710662