The Quest Express: Travel, Culture & Untold Stories

For the curious & adventurous:  learn more here
Are you ready to create crazy miracles?  Do you believe rewards come with leaving the comfort zone? Then decide now to meet me in Miami to begin your VIP Quest.

 take bold action here  (3 spots only)

BONUS EPISODE:  This episode explores the concept of going on a quest as a means of personal growth and transformation. Have we registered the negative effects of technology and social media?   The importance of disconnecting from technology, the power of quests as a form of prayer, and the impact of the environment on quests can't be underestimated. For the pioneers and early adopters, the "rebellious" move will be to leave tech behind and listen to our inner calling again.
 
In this episode:

• The Power of Traveling and Gaining Perspective
• The Personal Experience of Going on a Quest
• Matthew McConaughey's Quest to Write a Book
• The Benefits of Going on a Quest
• The Awakening and Self-Discovery of Going on a Quest
• The Certainty of Finding Answers on a Quest
• Escaping the Negative Effects of Technology and Social Media
  
  .... and much more

Hope to see you in Miami! 

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

BONUS EPISODE:  Paul Johnson has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years and is the Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog ( https://www.aluxurytravelblog.com ), the world's leading luxury travel blog with a combined social media audience of 1.2 million.  The blog has received multiple awards and was voted "one of the world's best travel blogs" and "best for luxury" by The Telegraph.

Stay at the Kendal Cottage property: https://kendalcottages.com/

In this episode:

• The evolution of Paul's award-winning blog
• How to write for A Luxury Travel Blog (contact Paul via the website)
• What are the current travel trends?
• Is "no-tech" travel a thing or unrealistic? 
• What did Paul do while his wife was visiting with lions on safari?
• Where Paul would go if he had just one year left

Subscribe to The Quest Express podcast to catch more bonus episodes before the next stop: Edinburgh, Scotland.

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

BONUS EPISODE:  Paul Johnson has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years and is the Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog ( https://www.aluxurytravelblog.com ), the world's leading luxury travel blog with a combined social media audience of 1.2 million.  The blog has received multiple awards and was voted "one of the world's best travel blogs" and "best for luxury" by The Telegraph. 

In this episode:

• How did Paul go from doing a PhD thesis on glaciology to running an award-winning luxury travel blog?
• How Paul got started doing websites in the 1990s
• What are the travel trends Paul is seeing
• The different tiers of luxury and what it must encompass
• Is "no-tech" becoming a thing? And would you do it?

Subscribe to The Quest Express podcast for updates. 

Coming Up:

Friday:  Part 2 with Paul Johnson

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

NEW ORLEANS:  In the final episode in our New Orleans series, Greg Lambousy, the Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz Museum, disclosed an exciting new project that was made possible by Herb Alpert, ways for patrons to get involved & attend the next gala in December, a few of his favorite jazz artists, and much more. Catch Part 1 of our conversation here (Apple) or here (on Spotify).

Check out the NOLA Jazz Museum Website or email Wendy to find out ways to support the museum and become a patron (email address below bio.)

For NOLA Jazz Museum Events Calendar go here

Follow NOLA Jazz Museum Streaming Events on FB Live here

Bio:

 Greg Lambousy is the Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Before accepting this position, Lambousy was Director of Curatorial Services for the National World War II Museum. He began his career at the New Orleans Museum of Art and later moved to the Louisiana State Museum (LSM). During his twenty-year tenure at the LSM, Lambousy managed the institution’s collections of more than 500,000 artifacts and other historical items, directed improvements to collections storage at the New Orleans Mint, developed conservation and digitization projects across collections and within the Louisiana Historical Center archives, conducted oral histories and guided the selection and accession of materials related to the State’s history. Since 2016, as Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz Museum, Lambousy has led expansion of the Museum in programming, education, exhibitions, international relations and the development of the Gallatin Street Records label. Visitation has increased 4 fold since 2016 and revenues from grants, sponsorships and events have funded operations while capital programs have advanced the development of the Museum’s Performance Center and Herb Alpert Education Wing among other aspects of the Museum’s campus. 

If you'd like to become a patron of the museum, or have questions about the December gala, please contact Greg's assistant, Wendy Bruton:  [email protected]

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

Check out the NOLA Jazz Museum Website or email Wendy to find out ways to support the museum and become a patron (email address below bio.)

For NOLA Jazz Museum Events Calendar go here

Follow NOLA Jazz Museum Streaming Events on FB Live here

NEW ORLEANS: Greg Lambousy is the Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Before accepting this position, Lambousy was Director of Curatorial Services for the National World War II Museum. He began his career at the New Orleans Museum of Art and later moved to the Louisiana State Museum (LSM). During his twenty-year tenure at the LSM, Lambousy managed the institution’s collections of more than 500,000 artifacts and other historical items, directed improvements to collections storage at the New Orleans Mint, developed conservation and digitization projects across collections and within the Louisiana Historical Center archives, conducted oral histories and guided the selection and accession of materials related to the State’s history. Since 2016, as Executive Director of the New Orleans Jazz Museum, Lambousy has led expansion of the Museum in programming, education, exhibitions, international relations and the development of the Gallatin Street Records label. Visitation has increased 4 fold since 2016 and revenues from grants, sponsorships and events have funded operations while capital programs have advanced the development of the Museum’s Performance Center and Herb Alpert Education Wing among other aspects of the Museum’s campus. 

If you'd like to become a patron of the museum, or have questions about the December gala, please contact Greg's assistant, Wendy Bruton:  [email protected]

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

NEW ORLEANS: 

Their website:  https://nosecretstours.com/

Their book: Secret New Orleans: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Inside this episode:

• How Angela Papke Aspiazu made the seamless move to New Orleans
• Early childhood foreshadowing of Mark's current business
• Cocktails that were born in NOLA
• The World Tour Culinary influences idea
• New Orleans magic & serendipities
• Celebs you might spot on one of their tours
• The Speediest Saint in all of New Orleans

ABOUT:

New Orleans Secret Tours is an Award-Winning and #1-Ranked Tour Company. They've been featured on the Travel Channel and National Geographic. You can also find them in Frommer’s, USA Today, Vanity Fair, Business Traveller, U.S. News & World Report, Luxe Life, and more. Their guides have also consulted for such TV shows as NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), Mysteries of Genius (Discovery Channel), and Animal Secrets (Animal Planet).

Mark, GUIDE

Mark Aspiazu was born and raised in New Orleans. He graduated from Jesuit High school and then got his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of New Orleans. It was there that he realized that the for-profit education industry just wasn’t for him. His passion was New Orleans history, food, and cocktails. Mark spent his weekends showing people around the city wishing he could do it full-time. So he did. In 2014 he got his tour guide license and in December of 2015 he decided to make the leap from Campus President to full-time New Orleans tour guide and he hasn’t looked back since.

Angela, GUIDE

Angela might be from the Midwest originally, but she never felt truly at home until moving to New Orleans. Always ready to see performing arts and eat delicious food, this former creative director cared little about history…until New Orleans. Now she has a voracious appetite for anything that relates to the city–historical or otherwise. When not on a tour, you’re likely to find her with her fiancé, Mark, trying out the latest restaurants, discussing New Orleans history and culture over cocktails, singing along at Fritzel’s on Bourbon, watching the Disney Channel, attempting to dance, acting on a TV/movie set, or indulging in her favorite activity: traveling.

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

NEW ORLEANS:  How do a New Orleans native and a Midwestern corporate wanderluster think you should spend your time in New Orleans?  How is New Orleans different from New York, London or Toronto, and what is their favorite New Orleans festival other than Mardi Gras? P.S. They're also engaged!

On Saturday, you'll learn how they met, hear about their team-building experiences and tours, and what's next for them.

Their website:  https://nosecretstours.com/

Their book: Secret New Orleans: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure

Inside this episode:

• New Orleans: Love at First Sight, Smell & Taste
• The best place to get Irish coffee
• Why is New Orleans the only place you might see trombonists playing on the street daily?
• How Angela left her old life behind and entered a world of magic & possibilities
• The vast influences in New Orleans food, and how the mixing of cultures actually happened
• What is Mark's favorite festival other than Mardi Gras?
• ....and of course some of their favorite spots!

ABOUT:

New Orleans Secret Tours is an Award-Winning and #1-Ranked Tour Company. They've been featured on the Travel Channel and National Geographic. You can also find them in Frommer’s, USA Today, Vanity Fair, Business Traveller, U.S. News & World Report, Luxe Life, and more. Their guides have also consulted for such TV shows as NCIS: New Orleans (CBS), Mysteries of Genius (Discovery Channel), and Animal Secrets (Animal Planet).

Mark, GUIDE

Mark Aspiazu was born and raised in New Orleans. He graduated from Jesuit High school and then got his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of New Orleans. It was there that he realized that the for-profit education industry just wasn’t for him. His passion was New Orleans history, food, and cocktails. Mark spent his weekends showing people around the city wishing he could do it full-time. So he did. In 2014 he got his tour guide license and in December of 2015 he decided to make the leap from Campus President to full-time New Orleans tour guide and he hasn’t looked back since.

Angela, GUIDE

Angela might be from the Midwest originally, but she never felt truly at home until moving to New Orleans. Always ready to see performing arts and eat delicious food, this former creative director cared little about history…until New Orleans. Now she has a voracious appetite for anything that relates to the city–historical or otherwise. When not on a tour, you’re likely to find her with her fiancé, Mark, trying out the latest restaurants, discussing New Orleans history and culture over cocktails, singing along at Fritzel’s on Bourbon, watching the Disney Channel, attempting to dance, acting on a TV/movie set, or indulging in her favorite activity: traveling.

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

NEW ORLEANS:  In today's episode we continue the conversation about jazz, and one of its first venues: the brothels. Frank also shares his best-kept-secrets for those who want to avoid Bourbon Street and the tourists. And why New Orleans has always had a vibrant literary scene.

To book a tour or schedule a public speaking engagement, email Frank at [email protected] or call 504-941-1633.

Visit his website: www.frenchquarterfrank.com

Inside this episode:

• Torrid stories of Storyville: brothels, jazz & cocktails
• How New Orleans' permissive culture stemmed from geography
• Voodoo, Tarot & Catholics, oh my!
• Where to go & what to do if it's your first time in New Orleans

BIO:

Frank Perez is a writer, teacher, tour guide, and public speaker who also serves as the Executive Director of the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. He has authored several books on LGBT+ history in New Orleans and is also a columnist for three New Orleans magazines—Ambush, French Quarter Journal, and Yazz Queen. His publications also include a number of scholarly articles in academic journals as well as a number of poems and short stories in various literary journals.  His latest book, Rainbow Fleur de Lis: Essays on Queer New Orleans History, is forthcoming from the University Press of Mississippi.

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

NEW ORLEANS:  Frank Perez share 300 years of New Orleans history in just a few minutes. We learn about the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, the inception point & ingredients of jazz, and all about his latest book.

For books, tours with Frank & more go to his website www.frenchquarterfrank.com

A peek inside:

• Who was in New Orleans first?
• The Spanish, French & Haitian influences in NOLA - as well as Vietnamese
• How Frank answered the call to preserve Queer New Orleans History
• What happens when African folk songs, spirituals & opera are put in a gumbo

BIO:

Frank Perez is a writer, teacher, tour guide, and public speaker who also serves as the Executive Director of the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. He has authored several books on LGBT+ history in New Orleans and is also a columnist for three New Orleans magazines—Ambush, French Quarter Journal, and Yazz Queen. His publications also include a number of scholarly articles in academic journals as well as a number of poems and short stories in various literary journals.  His latest book, Rainbow Fleur de Lis: Essays on Queer New Orleans History, is forthcoming from the University Press of Mississippi.

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel

NEW ORLEANS:  Jeffrey R. Doussan, Jr. shares real estate insights, cancel culture, the importance of diversity, equity & inclusion, and two underrated economic levers we all need in our toolbox for the most successful decade.

Reach out to the Doussan team

Contact Jeffrey directly here: [email protected]

Part 1 of his interview:  Jeffrey R. Doussan, Jr., Owner of Keller Williams Realty New Orleans

Part 2 of his interview: Concierge Level Service is No Match for Zillow

Article on the Doussan Team

In this episode:

• Why the United States stands out even with inflation
• The largest transfer of wealth in human history from baby boomers to millennials and its implications.
• Evolving trends in education and society, concerning boys' disengagement and girls' progress.
•  Examining the confusion around cancel culture
• Challenging the idea of renting, and the financial benefits of homeownership.
• The historical presence of Chinese buyers and  concerns about Blackrock
• What empathy & grace have to do with the next 10 years

Jeffrey Doussan, Jr’s creativity, resourcefulness, and ability to synthesize data give him an edge in real estate negotiations on behalf of local, national, and international clients. Jeffrey and his team pride themselves on providing clients with concierge-level service. He appreciates the big decisions that bring a client to the decision to purchase a home, lease a space for their new or growing business, or sell a family asset. These can be complex, and Jeffrey’s personal experience and diverse network of supportive professionals can meet the needs of even the most challenging deal.

Jeffrey’s experience paired with careful reading of the data give his clients an edge when it comes to pricing their property right, buying at the right price, and marketing through the proper channels. With an in-depth knowledge of the Warehouse District, Uptown, and Old Metairie, Jeffrey’s listings average few days on the market.    

Jeffrey is a seventh-generation New Orleanian, a graduate of Metairie Park Country Day, and Loyola University New Orleans with a degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurship. Jeffrey and his wife, Lauren, have three children and are homeowners in Old Metairie. Jeffrey stays active in the New Orleans community:

·       Owner, Keller Williams Realty New Orleans

·       President, Entrepreneur’s Organization, Louisiana

·       Executive Board Member, Metropolitan Crime Commission

·       2024 Biz Magazine New Orleans’ Influential, Involved and Inspiring Executives

Introducing the First Premium, Come to You, Decentralized Dinner Society for Discerning Travelers: The Dinner Story.   Visit us and inquire here: The Dinner Story

The podcast may be over, but our curiosity and hunger for inspiring people and experiences will never end.

Join the WAITING LIST for our most unique experiences, COMMISSION a rare season of modular events, or just say HI:   [email protected]

Music Credits:  INTRO:  Loyalty - Philip Ayers | OUTRO: Grasshopper's Dance - Etienne Roussel