
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


Welcome to the second episode devoted to Kentucky and The Kentucky Bourbon Trail. You could say that out of my friendship with my next guest, the idea of this Kentucky Series was created.
Heather Sunseri was a part of my audience for my blog Adventures of Empty Nesters, and back in 2019, she learned I was planning to take our first trip to Kentucky to discover The Bourbon Trail. Her knowledge of all things Kentucky was instrumental in our having the best vacation we could imagine.
She was so kind and thorough, and we even got together for breakfast so we could meet in person. Since our meeting three years ago, I have read 8 of her books and enjoyed every single one. When I decided to revisit our adventure in Kentucky, I knew that Heather had to be a part of this series.
She is a perfect fit for this podcast, with my obsession with authors and reading, her passion for travel, along with many other commonalities! Here at Travel Connections, we want to hear the stories of how meaningful the connections we make when we travel are and how they can improve our lives.
Heather is one of my personal travel connections. How cool is that? The Pandemic created a two-year travel void, so although our first trip to Kentucky was three years ago, it seems almost like yesterday.
Let me tell you a little bit about Heather:Heather Sunseri is a CPA who began writing novels to escape her mundane life as a muggle. After twenty years in the corporate world, Heather decided to use her business savvy and curious mind to start a publishing business anchored by fictional stories. She is proof that one can be a numbers person and a creative. And that it's never too late (or too early) to get a do-over. She's married to the love of her life, a mom to two amazing kids, and a caregiver to the best golden retriever and one very needy cat. When she's not writing, she's making homemade pizza, listening to travel podcasts, and drinking Kentucky bourbon while simultaneously planning her next adventure.
This episode is so fun! She's so fantastic, and I will never forget her story about the bats in her house~
Heather is a terrific friend and writer, and I look forward to reading her next book. While we wait for it, remember to check out all of her other book series on her website HeatherSunseri.com.
Highlights of this episode:
Check out my next episode for the Kentucky Bourbon Trail series, where I interview Ouita Michel. She is not only the nicest person on the planet, but she was a Guest Judge on Bravo's Top Chef Kentucky, an eight-time James Beard Foundation Award nominee, a restauranteur, and a cookbook author. A multi-talented woman. You don't want to miss this interview.
Link to Heather Sunseri => https://heathersunseri.com/
Kentucky Bourbon Trail Trip Details
Our favorite spirit is Kentucky Bourbon. To be more precise: We enjoy Woodford Reserve the MOST.
Our kids sip it, our parents love it, and we tend to serve it to our guests and friends more than any other adult beverage. We have history and take our bourbon drinking very seriously.
Back in 2019, before the world shut down, my husband Craig and I, and two of our best friends, went to Kentucky to discover a new destination, follow The Kentucky Bourbon Trail and to learn more about how bourbon is created.
Is a trip to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail on your list too? Ever since our grown kids came home from college loving this delicious Kentucky spirit, I have been paying attention. Our kids' enthusiasm for all drinks made with bourbon was intoxicating and persuasive.
Fast forward several years later, my favorite way to indulge is now a Manhattan or an Old Fashioned because I love the aroma and smooth flavor of high-quality bourbon.
My husband and I toured The Kentucky Bourbon Trail with our friends Brad and Troy; we visited smaller distilleries, dined at excellent restaurants, and thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Woodford Reserve, where our bourbon of choice is carefully crafted.
The art of making fine bourbon first took place on the site of the Woodford Reserve Distillery, a National Historic Landmark, in 1812. The perfectly balanced taste of their Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey comprises more than 200 detectable flavor notes, from bold grain and wood to sweet aromatics, spice, and fruit & floral notes.
Mmm, delicious Kentucky Bourbon!During our visit in 2019, we sipped, listened, and toured Woodford Reserve and had the time of our lives. Never in a million years did I dream I would create a podcast and have the opportunity to interview Master Distiller Chris Morris and Assistant Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall. Dreams do come true, my friends; I am living proof. (pun intended)
Chris Morris is Master Distiller for Brown-Forman Corporation, the seventh since the company began in 1870. A Louisville native, he has spent his working life in the bourbon industry. Chris is responsible for maintaining the award-winning taste of the whiskies produced at the Woodford Reserve and Old Forester Distilleries.
He is also one of three generations of his family to work at Brown-Forman and is a member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame.
Elizabeth McCall, CSS (Certified Specialist of Spirits), is the second generation of her family to work in the bourbon industry and one of the youngest female distillers in the United States. When she first began working at Brown Forman, assuming the role she is in today was never the goal. Realizing the excellent opportunity for employment the company offered, Elizabeth followed in her mother's footsteps, starting as a sensory expert and working in the quality department.
McCall has a master's degree from the University of Louisville and has been a member of Brown-Forman's R&D Department since 2009. Her ongoing devotion to quality, and interest in all things spirits, eventually led her to become Master Taster in 2015 and, in 2018, Assistant Master Distiller of Woodford Reserve.
Today she works directly with Master Distiller Chris Morris and R&D on the innovation and development of new products within Woodford Reserve.
In this episode:This episode is the first of four devoted to Kentucky and The Kentucky Bourbon Trail. Don't miss a new episode every two weeks.
Link to Woodford Reserve => HERE
Kentucky Bourbon Trail Trip Details
Are you looking to find adventure? You, my friend, are in the right place for an exhilarating 34 minutes!
My travel philosophy? Say yes and figure out the rest. I always encourage everyone I talk with to find adventure, and no one exemplifies this philosophy better than my next guest.
Scott Eddy has a unique background. Although he began his career in investment banking, he changed his business trajectory and lived in Europe and Asia for 17 years. While in Asia, he started the first digital agency in SE Asia.
He is based in Miami now, but he travels full-time as a TV host on Lifetime Television for a travel series called Video Globetrotter. In addition, Scott provides growth-focused marketing strategies to brands, primarily in the world of hospitality, and essentially turns storytelling into solid marketing success.
His enthusiasm for life and travel is infectious, and I can't wait for you to meet him. Also! I have a program alert for you! Do you like watching your podcast episodes? Well, you can find this one on my Youtube Channel!
Travel the world through amazing stories in this episode:You will laugh and sit in awe of his stories and adventures. We only scratched the surface of what Scott can share, but come listen and enjoy. This is a fantastic episode!
Links to Scott Eddy
TV host for Video Globetrotter Visual StorytellerWebsite: http://www.mrscotteddy.com/
Social Media: @MrScottEddy Twitter Instagram Facebook TikTok YouTubeI am a wine lover, and my wine education and favorites have grown since our kids left the nest. When our children were young, there was little time to indulge in learning about wines, so we chose as best we could and primarily drank wines from California.
We lived in California until two years ago when we moved to the state of Washington. Being in close proximity to the wineries is certainly a treat, but people from all over the world drink the delicious wines of Washington State. We are fortunate now to live close, taste more and learn a great deal!
As very willing participants, Craig and I have been learning about wines from this great state of agriculture, but I think we have hit the jackpot recently. We were guests at an event hosted by Auction of Washington Wines, also known as AWW.
Sharing the love of Washington WinesSince its inception in 1988, AWW has raised nearly $55 million to benefit Seattle Children's Hospital, Washington State University Viticulture & Enology Research, and the AWW Industry Grant. AWW is listed in the top five wine charity auctions in the U.S. by Wine Spectator. Its mission is to support the growth and awareness of the Washington state wine industry through a series of celebrated events benefiting the community.
At a recent event, we were introduced to winemakers from several prominent wineries here in Washington. What a privilege to talk with these experts and taste their wines! We learned so much about these wineries and their wines, made new friends, and had a wonderful conversation with Andrew Januik while we tasted wines from Novelty Hill and Januik Wineries. All of the winemakers offered us a taste of an older vintage and compared it with a newer vintage; such a fun idea!
During our chat that evening, I kept thinking. I should create an episode on Washington wines! Wouldn't he be a fantastic guest on Travel Connections? Somehow he carved out some time in his busy schedule for us to dive a little deeper into wine and the joys of being a winemaker. Andrew probably has the most fabulous job ever. I think it would be dreamy! I know it's hard work, but sign me up.
Let me tell you about Andrew's background.Most winemakers have spent most of their lives in the industry, and Andrew Januik is no different – except that he is only 35 years old. When he was just 13, he started working with wine on the weekends and full-time during his summers. As the son of a world-renowned winemaker, Andrew was born with winemaking in his blood, and the proof is in the pressing!
Every wine that Andrew has made since starting his eponymous label in 2011 has been rated above 90 points. His passion for wine is rooted in the state of Washington but has led to nearly a decade of making wine in the Southern Hemisphere, including his own labels in both Chile and Argentina.
Here are just a few of the exciting topics we covered in our interview:Here's some information on the upcoming events in August for Auction of Washington Wines: You can enjoy more than 100 wines, global BBQ, and casual fun at the Winemaker Picnic & Barrel Auction, or dress up for the Annual Gala, both held at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, WA.
Essential Links in this episode:
I started this podcast with the dream of talking about and focusing on the connections we make when we travel. Nothing exemplifies this idea more than my trip to Camano Island, Washington.
I was invited to explore the island and attend the 23rd Annual Studio Tour by the Whidbey & Camano Island Tourism Board. My hosts had no great expectations other than for me to have a good time and discover the island of Camano and the artists that live there.
This unique event is held two weekends in a row in early May. We are lucky to only live about an hour from this beautiful destination, but as of yet, we still had not visited!
Camano Island, located 64 miles north of Downtown Seattle is an easy and scenic drive.
In This Episode!Both my husband Craig and I had the absolute best time. We knew we would enjoy our time on the studio tour, but it was much more than just a casual walkabout through many studios.
Our time there was personal and, at times, moving. For the most part, artists work alone, and sharing their creative space and personal projects must be so satisfying. It sure was for us!
We made new friends and purchased gorgeous art for our home, each with a story and a history.
Make a plan to visit next year for the 24th Annual Studio Tour on Camano Island and also visit their website. It will direct you to all of the artists I talked about, plus many more.
I highly recommend a visit, any time of year. Nature is bold and beautiful, and you can hear yourself think. How lovely is that?
Camano Island is the perfect place to relax, reset, rejoice, and rediscover.
To find the artists we talked about on the podcast:
This episode is a fun one. It's not too long and will provide you with some very unique travel ideas you can use right from your own living room.
I share a couple of podcast episode reminders. Have you had a chance to listen to my interview with Linda Miller Nicholson? Her episode is called Colorful Pasta-Making & Italian Travel with Salty Seattle. She shares how she built her unique pasta classes, wrote a cookbook, and changed the world with rainbow-colored pasta. The interview will enlighten and delight you!
Also, I offer a sneak peek of my upcoming SUPER BIG Episode of our trip to Camano Island, WA, where we spent two days on the Camano Island Studio Tour.
And then...
The heart of this episode:Back in 2020, when travel was shut down, I was given no choice but to stay home and figure out how to be somewhat relevant in the travel industry.
This is what we did:
My husband and I created Cocktail Adventures, where we paired a favorite cocktail recipe with a connecting travel memory. We had no idea what we were doing, but it was super fun, and we could still connect with travel that we so dearly loved. You can find our videos on Instagram on my @SuzanneStavert account, and you can also find them on my website, AdventuresofEmptyNesters.com, and type in Cocktail Adventures.
I created a solution that would still be perfect today. At the time, I was disappointed by my lack of travel options during the Stay at Home mandate; I needed to change my thinking. I had to look at my current situation and determine just how to move forward when I could not write about future travel or plan any of our own adventures. Like you, I couldn't enjoy a Maui vacation if I wanted to!
Imagine the cold-sweet sip of a tropical Mai Tai, Seared Ahi Tuna with Vegetable Fried Rice, and a mound of ice cream covered in chocolate fudge in a decadent slice of Hula Pie. Yes, please! Tell me more. This delicious list is just the beginning of an authentic and tasty Maui Style vacation you can create at home.
Can I bring you soft white sand and fresh tropical breezes? No, I can't; sorry about that. Can I suggest where to buy unique products that will get your Maui vacation vibes flowing? Yes, my friends, I can!
I don't want to give away all of my Hawaiian gems right here, so make sure you head over to the Guide.
Check out the Downloadable Guide ==> HERE:
From the moment I stepped into her pasta studio, Linda Miller Nicholson, also known as Salty Seattle, exuded warmth and enthusiasm that was palpable.
Her expansive studio is located about 30 miles east of Seattle, and it is super cool! Cleverly designed with a fireplace, chic seating, and rainbow-colored pasta tools. Woodblock counters cover the surfaces of each workstation. On one side of the studio, she has an antique refrigerator that must be 8-10 feet long with glass windows, old-fashioned metal handles, and beautiful wood doors. She has retrofitted the appliance to today's refrigeration standards. You would love this piece! Linda's unique culinary studio is truly a rainbow pasta dreamland.
I was a guest of my dear friends at Tuscan Women Cook (Episode #3)for this hands-on class and adventure. We spent hours learning how to make several types of colorful handmade pasta, laughing, and learning while sipping wine. I really honed my pasta-making skills with Linda and my passion for this culinary craft keeps my family and friends eating fresh pasta for days!
Linda Miller Nicholson is an internationally recognized pasta-making powerhouse whose work is featured across media outlets, including Saveur, Good Housekeeping, Buzzfeed, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Delta Airlines, the BBC, and Business Insider. She has made pasta art for Katy Perry, The cast of The Chew. And Harry Connick Jr. She's been the subject of several documentaries and works with companies like the Food Network and Buzzfeed's Tasty.
I can also attest that she is incredibly delightful and highly talented. I feel super fortunate to have spent quality time with Linda.
We talked about so many wonderful things in this episode!Linda offers sound advice and insight for other entrepreneurs and how she believes that no one is really ever "stuck" but that we are continually growing and learning.
In this podcast episode, her infectious joy for pasta-making comes through even without seeing her! She's a pleasure to interview and to get to know. You will LOVE hearing her engaging stories!
I wish I could bottle her energy and enthusiasm! Make sure you check the show notes for all of the essential links and for where to find her book. Pasta Pretty Please.Well, we have another fantastic episode for you! Today, I will introduce you to my friend, author, and fellow travel writer, Sara Broers. I promise you will learn about places you have never heard of and you will love it! But first, let me tell you a little about Sara. She went from Iowa Mommy Blogger to CEO and is a leading advocate and expert in Midwest Destinations.
Sara Broers is a travel enthusiast that resides in North Iowa. She is passionate about the Midwest and helping communities grow through one destination visit at a time. Sara is the CEO of Travel With Sara and the Co-Owner of the Midwest Travel Network. In May of 2022, her book 100 Things To Do In Iowa Before You Die will be released! Sara and her husband live on the nearly 100-year-old family farm in North Iowa and enjoy camping, biking, and spending time with their grandchildren.
We had a blast talking about all things Midwest, and I credit Sara for most of my extraordinary adventures in this fantastic area of the United States. Without Sara and her travel connections, I may not have enjoyed adventures in North and South Dakota, dined on Kansas City food trails, and experienced the cold April wind on the prairie with wild bison in Nebraska!
Here are just some of the topics we covered in this forty-minute conversation! Midwest Destinations to know and love!
After listening to Sara tell colorful stories of the Midwest, how many new destinations did you learn about? She is such a wealth of knowledge, and her enthusiasm for small towns and larger ones is so captivating. There is so much beauty, great food, and history to explore there.
Have you spent much time in the Midwest? Where have you been? I would love to know! I hope you check out Sara's website and learn where to buy her book. Check the show notes for all of the links we talked about in this episode! There are a bunch!
Her work has focused on developing media solutions that connect travel brands with their target consumers in innovative ways using the power of SXM Media (SiriusXM, Soundcloud, Pandora, Stitcher, and more). Laura has expertly weaved together SXM Media's assets with the needs and habits of travelers and guided brands to target the audience when they are most engaged.
Laura is undoubtedly no stranger to the relationship and similar emotional impact and relief that music and travel can have on people. With both her personal and professional affinity for music, her radio career quickly evolved after joining SXM Media, where she would go on to launch vertical divisions for Casinos, Tourism, and eventually Travel.
Laura is passionate about the ever-evolving audio industry and enjoys educating brands on how they can take advantage of the audio platform's captivated audiences.
In this episode:
Listening to Laura offer her insights into travel and the audio experience was such a treat. Her new podcast The 3 Stride Podcast hosted by Laura, Julia, and Molly is a great idea and perfect for anyone who wants to learn, laugh, and hear more about the world of horses.
I hope you will go and listen! Check the show notes below for links.
Links to people and places in this episode!
Today's episode is a two-for-one! I am introducing you to the man behind the mixing board of this podcast, Erik Hulslander. With his expertise, every episode sounds professional and fantastic! We will take you behind the scenes of Travel Connections and how Erik, my audio engineer, is an active global traveler and marathon runner. He loves to see the world on foot, 26.2 miles at a time. How brilliant is that?
Here's a little background. Erik Hulslander is a multi-disciplined audio engineer who provided sound for award-winning films, edited dialog for a Best of the iTunes Store meditation app, and worked in a recording studio that helped define the Seattle Grunge Rock sound. And that was all before starting his own post-production company, Hear No Evil Media. He has worked on podcasts for national hospitals, futurists, indigenous peoples, entrepreneurs, and travel writers like me!
Erik's music education began in 1986 with an Atari Computer and music notation software. He continued with music and recording into high school, starting college early and earning three degrees in music and recording arts and science.
Erik is also an avid marathon participant. He's traveled around the globe to run in races in iconic locations like Qatar, Paris Disney, The Great Wall of China, and many more. He's currently challenging himself to run 20 marathons this year alone. That is impressive!
In this episode, you will learn:
What is active travel, and why is it so appealing?
Erik also shares a heartfelt and poignant travel connection story that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
Also... In Episode #9, "Walking the Camino de Santiago – An Exhilarating & Inspiring Adventure", I talked with Meg Maloney, author of Slow Your Roll. She shared her remarkable experience walking the Camino de Santiago. Erik shares his unique tale of the Camino as well! It is so fun to see how our travel stories can connect us (even my guests) in so many ways.
Links in this podcast:From the publisher's feed

90,968 Listeners

38 Listeners

69,538 Listeners

13 Listeners

8 Listeners

657 Listeners

5,638 Listeners

597 Listeners

1,012 Listeners

31 Listeners