On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we’re joined by the wise and luminous Judith Valente, an award-winning journalist, poet, and author of The Italian Soul: How to Savor the Full Joys of Life. Judith brings us into the soulful rhythms of Italy, a place that taught her to live not faster, but deeper. 

Drawing from her own transformation from the high-speed world of journalism to the stillness of contemplative life, Judith shares stories, insights, and practical wisdom for anyone yearning to slow down, savor life, and reconnect with what truly matters. 

With the heart of a seeker and the grace of a storyteller, she invites us to discover the beauty of doing less and being more with Italian style and soul.

 A must listen! Ciao Ciao! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

In this deeply personal and inspiring episode, we welcome Liza Graves, founder of StyleBlueprint and a beloved leader in the lifestyle space, for a rich conversation about how travel has quietly and powerfully shaped her life. 

From the traditions she’s built with family, to the friendships that have deepened over shared adventures, and even the very fabric of her professional journey, travel has been a guiding force for Liza both outwardly and inwardly.

A true storyteller at heart and a curious soul by nature, Liza has built a career around connection, beauty, and discovery. Her passion for travel isn’t about collecting stamps in a passport but rather about the people you meet, the moments that stay with you, and the perspective you carry home. 

Whether she’s wandering the streets of a new city or finding wonder in the familiar rhythms of her own backyard, Liza shows us how curiosity, gratitude, and intention can turn every journey, whether near or far, into something transformative.

This episode is more than a conversation. Think of it as an invitation to reflect on how we move through the world, and how travel, when approached with heart, can create a life filled with purpose, connection, and joy.

A must listen! Only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

In this compelling episode of Speaking of Travel, we welcome back Richard "Ricky" Crawford, host of the Amazon Prime series Leave No Trace TV and a passionate voice for sustainable travel, conservation, and global community. 

We dive into the power of mindful exploration and how slowing down, connecting with local cultures, and embracing sustainability can transform not just our journeys, but the world around us. 

Ricky shares insights from the road, offering practical tips for reducing our travel footprint while amplifying our positive impact. From advocating for climate-conscious choices to encouraging deeper cultural appreciation, this episode is a powerful reminder that travel is more than just a movement, it’s a call to action. 

Whether you're planning your next adventure or simply seeking a better way to see the world, Ricky’s perspective will leave you inspired to travel with purpose and protect the places you love. 

A must listen and a must watch on Amazon Prime. You can watch Season One and now Season Two! 

And be sure to visit Speaking of Travel for past episode of the Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace TV series!

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

In this unforgettable episode, I’m joined by the extraordinary Jane Adams, a  passionate advocate, art historian, and formerly the Director of Partnership Relations for Advancing Women Artists. Today she is co-founder and CEO of Artemisia Gold. 

Jane brings with her a deeply moving and richly layered story, one that begins with the spark of a mission ignited by author and philanthropist Jane Fortune, and blossoms into a global movement to uncover, restore, and celebrate the long-forgotten works of women artists hidden throughout Florence’s churches, museums, and storied halls.

This episode isn’t just about art. It’s about justice, recognition, and legacy. Jane shares the behind-the-scenes challenges and triumphs of breathing life back into masterpieces that were nearly lost to time, and she speaks with heart and urgency about the importance of giving these women the visibility they were long denied.

Jane’s insight is not only illuminating but deeply inspiring. Her passion radiates as she recounts how a once-overlooked painting becomes a reclaimed piece of history, a recovered voice, a restored place in the cultural narrative.

If you care about art, women's history, meaningful travel, or stories that stir the soul, this conversation will leave you deeply moved and energized. You’ll walk away seeing the art world, and perhaps the world itself, a little differently.

And don’t miss hearing about Jane’s uniquely curated art tour through Italy with Kiki Keating of KiKiNetwork Travel, designed to bring travelers face-to-face with these rediscovered treasures. It’s more than a tour. This is a pilgrimage through forgotten genius and enduring beauty.

This episode of Speaking of Travel is heartfelt, eye-opening, and brimming with passion. Join us in giving voice to the women who painted in silence, and whose stories are finally being told.

A must listen! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Today’s guest is someone whose life feels like a gentle invitation to pause, listen, and truly see. Meet Miyuki Seguchi, a bilingual travel expert, guide, and host of the Japan Experts podcast. 

Born among the rice paddies and mountain breezes of central Japan, Miyuki’s path has led her across continents and cultures, all while staying deeply rooted in her homeland’s rhythms and rituals. From working in top global newsrooms like The Wall Street Journal, NHK World, and GE, to interviewing travel industry giants, Miyuki’s journalism background brings a human-centered approach to every story and itinerary. 

Today, she channels those storytelling gifts into creating custom travel experiences across Japan, helping travelers slow down, connect deeply, and walk away with lifelong memories. Miyuki shares her journey from rural Japan to global storytelling. 

If you're dreaming of cherry blossoms, steaming noodles, and lantern-lit streets, or just craving a slower, more intentional approach to travel, be sure to sign up for a free Japan travel guide and follow Miyuki on Instagram. 

A must listen! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

In this vibrant and heart-centered episode, we sit down with Vanessa K. Harper, founder of Travel Cuba With Us and Support the Cuban People, to explore the powerful intersection of ethical tourism, yoga, and humanitarian support in Cuba today.

Vanessa leads with purpose, offering deeply immersive cultural experiences that directly benefit Cuban communities. Through her travel company, she curates legal, people-to-people exchanges that respect Cuban sovereignty while fostering genuine human connection.

With her nonprofit, Support the Cuban People, Vanessa and husband, Alejandro Berroa Alvarez, help provide food, medicine, and micro-grants to local artists and small entrepreneurs. It's a bold model to travel not as escape, but as impact.

You'll also hear about her Cuba Yoga Retreats, transformative journeys blending spiritual practice, movement, and cultural immersion. These retreats offer participants not only inner peace but the chance to see, feel, and uplift a nation full of resilience, music, and joy. 

If you’ve ever been curious about Cuba or want to travel in a way that truly matters, this episode will inspire you to see tourism in a whole new light. 

A must listen! 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

What if planning your next adventure felt more like a conversation with a trusted friend than a checklist? In this episode of Speaking of Travel, I’m joined by Anna Jaffe and Harriet Brown of Mobi.AI, a powerful new platform reimagining travel planning through the lens of empathy, technology, and storytelling. 

This is more than a travel episode. It’s a love letter to curiosity, to wandering with purpose, and to a future where your travel tools know you crave hidden bookstores just as much as beach sunsets. 

Together we explore how AI is helping travelers find what really speaks to them beyond the filters and search engines and how this deeply personal approach is changing the way we explore the world. 

Anna and Harriet share why travel planning is so complex and so human and how AI tools are learning what you love and helping you discover more of it. 

This is a conversation about possibility, connection, and the beautiful future of travel where technology listens, learns, and helps us find joy in the journey. 

So if you’ve ever dreamed of travel planning that actually gets you, tune in. You’ll hear about the tech, the heart, and the hope behind a smarter way to see the world. 🎧 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

In this soul-stirring episode of Speaking of Travel, we welcome the radiant and deeply authentic Pilar Guzmán, Editorial Director of Oprah Daily, whose voice has long guided readers toward lives of intention, connection, and beauty. 

With grace, warmth, and unflinching honesty, Pilar opens up about her creative vision for Oprah Daily, a space that has become a sanctuary for mindful living, soulful exploration, and profound storytelling.

Pilar shares the inspiration behind the Oprah Daily Travel Issue, a breathtaking invitation for women to rediscover themselves through the liberating lens of travel. 

This isn’t just about getting away; it’s about coming home to yourself. Through powerful stories, Pilar reveals how travel can be a sacred act of self-care, a way to realign with your inner compass, and a catalyst for deep emotional renewal.

Together we explore what it means to live well... not in excess, but with presence, wonder, and soul. Pilar reminds us that living well is not about perfection or performance. It’s about pausing long enough to ask what truly nourishes us, finding the courage to follow that answer, and allowing travel to be both a mirror and a doorway.

With poetic insight and a storyteller’s heart, Pilar encourages us to embrace curiosity, awe, and the expansive joy that comes from exploring not only the world but the vast landscapes within ourselves. 

This is an episode that will stay with you, awaken your spirit of adventure, and invite you to redefine what it means to live fully and love deeply.

“Travel can be the greatest act of self-care.” ~ Pilar Guzmán

Let this conversation be your permission to wander, to wonder, and to welcome yourself back home. 

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

In this unforgettable episode of Speaking of Travel, meet Alexandra Kinias, a fearless trailblazer rewriting the rules on what it means to live boldly, age defiantly, and lead with purpose.

From forging her path as a mechanical engineer in a male-dominated world to becoming a celebrated screenwriter and outspoken women’s rights advocate, Alex’s life is a breathtaking testament to courage, reinvention, and relentless hope. She’s not just breaking barriers though. She’s building bridges for women across cultures and generations. 

With unflinching honesty and radiant wisdom, Alex shares her extraordinary journey from the quiet strength it took to walk away from convention, to the power of finding her voice through storytelling and activism, to standing atop Mount Kilimanjaro at 60 as a symbol of resilience and possibility.

This episode is a call to action. A love letter to reinvention. A celebration of every woman who dares to rise and bring others with her.

Whether you're chasing your next adventure or still searching for your spark, Alex’s story will stir your soul and remind you that it’s never too late to begin again.

🎧 Tune in now. Only on Speaking of Travel.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.

Today’s episode is a breathtaking story of courage, healing, and the radical choice to seek joy after unimaginable loss.

I’m so honored to share the journey of Abigail Carter, a writer, artist, and one of the most soulfully brave humans I’ve ever met. After losing her husband in the 9/11 attacks, Abby spent years learning how to live with grief. But when the buzz and blur of life became too much, a quiet whisper inside nudged her toward something new.

So she listened. Fast forward...

She packed up her life and moved to a charming little château in the sun-drenched countryside of southwest France. Yes, France! Picture golden fields of sunflowers, deep breaths, and slow mornings with coffee and birdsong. It’s here that Abby began again.

But this is not just a story about moving to France. It’s about moving forward. About what happens when we follow the gentle pull toward something more, like more peace, more purpose, more joy.

Now Abby has turned her home into a retreat space for women over 50, creating a haven where others can come to rediscover their creativity, reconnect with themselves, and begin their own next chapters.

This conversation is full of heart and wonder. We talk about slowing down, building meaningful community, and what it really means to start over on your own terms. If you’ve ever felt the urge to change your life, to seek beauty after heartbreak, or to step into something wildly new, Abby’s story will light a spark in you.

Come listen. It’s a reminder that no matter where you are, it’s never too late to begin again.

Thanks for listening to Speaking of Travel! Visit speakingoftravel.net for travel tips, travel stories, and ways you can become a more savvy traveler.