It’s been a little while but I am back on the podcast for a special episode with a good friend and fellow travel creator, Bea Meitiner.

I wanted to catch up with Bea and talk about some of the big shifts happening for her this year after leaving her corporate career to pursue her passion and live a more fulfilled life.

Bea recently won the TravMedia Influencer Rising Star Award, recognising her commitment to community-based tourism and connecting with local cultures through individual guides, family-run businesses, and independent hotels as opposed to large tour companies or international hotel chains. Aside from running her well-known blog, Bea Adventurous, she now organises and leads trips in sub-Saharan Africa. 

In the episode, Bea shares her experiences of exploring lesser-known destinations, like Sierra Leone, and the profound personal transformation she's undergone along the way. We discuss the challenges and joys of off-the-beaten-path travel, the importance of aligning with one's true calling, and the impact of tourism on local communities and ecosystems. Whether you're a seasoned traveller or someone seeking to align your career with your passions, this episode is filled with inspiring insights and practical wisdom.

Tune in to hear how following your dreams can lead to unexpected and life-changing adventures.

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Follow Bea's blog - https://bea-adventurous.com/

Follow Bea on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bea_adventurous_/

Join an upcoming journey to Africa - https://bea-adventurous.com/join-me/

Connect with Bea on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/bea-meitiner/

Read our story from Sierra Leone - https://thealtruistictraveller.com/blog/the-one-with-the-impact-marathon-in-sierra-leone/

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Order a copy of Bianca's book, Soul Truth - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BX7WCMPD

Welcome back to season 5 (and the series finale) of The Altruistic Traveller podcast. My name is Bianca Caruana and for the past five years, I have been bringing you stories from influential change makers who are shaping our world for the better.

In this episode, I speak with Court Whelan, the Chief Sustainability Officer at Natural Habitat Adventures (Nat Hab).

Court shares insights from his journey, from his upbringing in Florida to his passion for conservation and sustainability. We discuss the intersection of biodiversity conservation and ecotourism, the impact of travel on local communities, and Nat Hab's efforts to promote sustainable travel practices.

One of Nat Hab's key initiatives is to empower local communities and support grassroots conservation efforts. Court shares, "We work closely with local partners to ensure that our trips benefit the communities we visit. Whether it's providing funding for small-scale projects or fostering sustainable livelihoods, we believe in creating shared value for all stakeholders."

Through its innovative conservation projects and immersive travel experiences, Natural Habitat Adventures is helping to shape a more sustainable future for our planet. As Court summarises, "Our goal is to inspire travellers to become stewards of the environment and advocates for conservation. By exploring the world responsibly, we can protect and preserve the natural wonders that make our planet so unique."

Follow Court's adventures on Instagram.

Follow Natural Habitat Adventures on Instagram.

Join one of NatHab's upcoming conservation adventures.

Welcome back to season 5 (and the series finale) of The Altruistic Traveller podcast. My name is Bianca Caruana, and for the past five years, I have been bringing you stories from influential change makers who are shaping our world for the better.

In this episode, I speak with Anniina Sandberg, the founder of Visit Natives, a sustainable travel company dedicated to promoting cross-cultural tourism in Tanzania, Norway, and Papua New Guinea. 

Anniina is Norwegian-born but has spent most of her life living amongst the Maasai people in the rural landscapes of Tanzania. She is fluent in Swahili and has a background in anthropology and African studies. In the interview, Anniina shares insights into cultural relativism, community-based tourism and the importance of understanding diverse perspectives.

We learn about her experience and wisdom gained from years in the field, discussing the transformative power of cultural exchange and the potential pitfalls of ethnocentrism.

Discover how embracing cultural diversity can enrich our lives and receive advice on how you can support sustainable travel initiatives and the communities you visit through conscientious tourism practices.

Follow Anniina on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theanthropologisttraveler/

Connect with Anniina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anniina-sandberg-b91127196/

Find out more about the cultural experiences offered: https://www.visitnatives.com/

Welcome back to season 5 (and the series finale) of The Altruistic Traveller podcast. My name is Bianca Caruana and for the past five years, I have been bringing you stories from influential change makers who are shaping our world for the better.

In this episode, I welcome Jarka Kunova, co-founder of La Vita Sukha – a conscious and intentional coliving, coworking, and retreat space in the heart of Southern Italy. Jarka, a psychology-informed coach, consultant, and investor, shares her insights into creating a conscious community and navigating life as a location-independent entrepreneur.

Discover how this unique coliving experience goes beyond physical spaces, fostering connections that facilitate profound personal growth and healing. Jarka shares insights into the intentional approach to conscious living at La Vita Sukha, creating an environment that supports individuals on their healing journeys.

Visit the website: https://lavitasukha.com/

Join the coliving experience: https://lavitasukha.com/coliving/

Follow co-founder Jarka Kunova on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarka-kunova/

Follow co-founder Jarka Kunova on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulfulnomadlife/

Follow co-founder Liz Cirelli on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizcirelli/

Follow co-founder Liz Cirelli on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liz_cirelli/

Welcome back to the final series of The Altruistic Traveller podcast. I'm your host, Bianca Caruana, and for the past five years, I've been sharing stories from influential change makers shaping a better world.

In this episode, I speak with Peigi Rodan, a dedicated advocate for sustainable tourism and the Senior Sustainability Manager at Invia Travel Germany (formerly the Sustainability Manager at WithLocals.)

We delve into her journey and passion for sustainable travel, exploring what "sustainable tourism" means in today's world.

Join us as Peigi sheds light on the advantages of experiencing a destination through the eyes of locals and how technology can enhance sustainable travel experiences. We also discuss valuable tips for authentic cultural immersion and meaningful interactions with locals.

Related article: https://thealtruistictraveller.com/blog/6-websites-that-help-you-travel-like-a-local-while-supporting-a-local/

Welcome back to season 5 (and the series finale) of The Altruistic Traveller podcast. My name is Bianca Caruana and for the past five years, I have been bringing you stories from influential change makers who are shaping our world for the better.

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Marcus Hansen, a senior lecturer in tourism & events at Liverpool John Moores University. Dr. Hansen teaches and conducts research in relation to tourism and event management. His research interests are particularly around the topics of accessible tourism & events, including travelling with a vision impairment, accessible destination management, creating dementia-friendly destinations and leveraging mega events to deliver accessible outcomes.

We discuss destination management strategies that create inclusive environments for people with physical and cognitive disabilities. We also delve into the concept of accessible tourism, who are the stakeholders and what are some of the benchmarks for accessibility in tourism.

Dr. Hansen provides valuable insights on how destinations can adapt to cater to individuals with disabilities and highlights the benefits of creating environments that support those with cognitive impairments.

Tune in for an informative and inspiring conversation on making tourism accessible for everyone.

Follow Dr. Hansen on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcus-hansen-tourism/

Listen to Dr. Hansen's podcast - The Accessible Tourism Podcast

Email Dr. Hansen - [email protected]

Welcome back to season 5 (and the series finale) of The Altruistic Traveller podcast. My name is Bianca Caruana and for the past five years, I have been bringing you stories from influential change makers who are shaping our world for the better.

In this episode, I speak with Shaun Busuttil, an anthropologist and travel writer currently completing a PhD on digital nomadism at the University of Melbourne, Australia. A nomad himself for over a decade, his ethnographic research illuminates and unveils some of the struggles, challenges and existential dilemmas encountered within this hypermobile community, as well as the various strategies digital nomads employ to resolve, reconcile or overcome them. His multi-sited ethnography also situates digital nomadism within a global neoliberal political landscape and critiques the impact of this relatively privileged class of transnational actors on the communities that host them. 

Shaun and I met at the Bansko Nomad Fest in June of this year. I was fascinated by his research-led reflections and insights into this modern nomadic lifestyle. Specifically, the balance we "digital nomads" endeavour to find when we value freedom but also crave community and connection.

In this discussion, we talk about the existential considerations of the life of a modern-day nomad and how location-independent individuals negotiate their identities in diverse cultural contexts. We explore the dichotomy of isolation versus community and unpack the monetisation and commodification of a sense of belonging.

Follow Shaun's research on his website: https://www.shaunbusuttil.com/

Follow Shaun's travels on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theshaunbusuttil/

Welcome back to season 5 (and the series finale) of The Altruistic Traveller podcast. My name is Bianca Caruana and for the past five years, I have been bringing you stories from influential change makers who are shaping our world for the better.

In this episode, I speak with James Ellsmoor, an award-winning serial entrepreneur, writer, and influential advocate for island sustainable development. He is the CEO of the sustainable impact consultancy Island Innovation - a global network helping advance innovation and drive sustainable change across island communities worldwide.

In this episode, we talk about the Island Innovation project and the Virtual Island Summit that brings representatives from island nations together to discuss pressing challenges and create solutions for them, while learning sustainable development techniques that ripple across oceans. We talk about the influence of tourism on island nations and how we, as travellers, can practice sustainable tourism when visiting nations more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and mass tourism. 

Be inspired, educated and moved by global initiatives making this world a better place. 

The Virtual Island Summit will be held on September 25. Register here.

Welcome back to season 5 (and the series finale) of The Altruistic Traveller podcast. My name is Bianca Caruana and for the past five years I have been bringing you stories from influential change makers who are shaping our world for the better.

In this episode, I speak with Chris Christou - a writer, educational curator, activist and founder of the End of Tourism Podcast. 

Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, he moved to Oaxaca, Mexico in 2015 after a decade of “delirious wanderlust”. In 2016, Chris began concurrently working in and writing about the tourism industry. In 2021, he created and launched the End of Tourism Podcast where he holds deep dialogues that confront, unknot, and subvert the unauthorised histories of wanderlust and exile.

“For some, tourism can entail learning, freedom, and financial survival. For others, it means the loss of culture, land, and lineage.” In this episode, we talk about the “other” side of tourism - how our freedom of movement has inherent consequences on place, people and culture. 

Chris shares his knowledge and insights from years as an academic in this arena, as well as learnings from guests he hosts on his podcast. We discuss gentrification, exile, capitalism, tourism and radical hospitality. 

Get ready for thirty minutes of deep dialogue and thought-provoking discussion about what it means to be human in the age of hypermobility.

Welcome back to season 5 (and the series finale) of The Altruistic Traveller podcast. My name is Bianca Caruana and for the past five years, I have been bringing you stories from influential change makers who are shaping our world for the better.

In this episode, I speak with Marinel De Jesus - the founder of the award-winning media platform, Brown Gal Trekker, and mountain trekking enterprise, Equity Global Treks, both of which aim to elevate the status and roles of women and indigenous communities in the outdoor and travel industries. 

In this podcast episode, we talk about how the former civil rights lawyer turned her passion for hiking into a full-time endeavour as a social entrepreneur, solutions-focused journalist, activist, and speaker.

During the show, we talk about: 

Learn more about the project here: https://theportervoicecollective.org/

Watch the KM82 trailer here: https://youtu.be/Y6wQ3SCinE8

Follow Marinel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/browngaltrekker/