When Travel, Humor & Human Connection Collide: A Joyful Conversation with Melissa Rodway

Some of the best stories on The Debbie Nigro Show start with a "premonition." You know… that little voice that says to someone, "I should reach out to Debbie." And when that voice belongs to someone with great energy, curiosity, and a whole lotta heart? I listen.

That's exactly how I connected with Melissa Rodway—Toronto-based travel storyteller, longtime host of Fly Travel Radio, part-time adventurer, occasional stand-up comic, and author of the five-star Amazon hit The People You Meet.

And let me tell you… this conversation was pure joy.

From Airport Observations to Life Adventures

Melissa's book was born from heartfelt emails she sent home while traveling through Southeast Asia and China—emails so good, friends begged for more. Sixteen years later, she finally turned them into a book. (Proof that timing is everything, people!)

Right out of the gate, she hooks you with humor—like watching President Obama on TV in an airport while wondering why the woman next to her didn't care… "Maybe she already has dental." 😂

That's Melissa. Observant. Funny. Relatable.

Travel, Romance & Letting Your Guard Down

We talked about how travel changes you—how being on the road makes you more open, more authentic, and more willing to connect.

That's how she met "the guy." Yes, that guy. A fellow cyclist. Same passions. Same energy. A long-distance love story born on a trip.

And as Melissa so beautifully put it: sometimes travel romances stay where they began… and sometimes you bring them home and say, "Oh boy… now I have to fit this human into my life."

(Relatable?)

The Magic of Noticing the Little Things

One of my favorite parts of her book? The tiny moments.

Like discovering a self-sanitizing toilet seat cover in a public bathroom for the first time—and wishing her grandmother could've seen it. If you've ever heard a grandma yell, "Put paper on the seat!" from another stall, you felt that one.

Melissa gets it: the little things are what connect us.

Leeches, Luxury & Life Lessons

We also dove into her wild jungle hike in Laos—three days, brutal heat, not enough water, and… leeches. Everywhere.

On the flip side? Traveling with a luxury trip designer boyfriend meant fancy hotels, endless pools, and the pressure to "do it all" in 24 hours.

Her takeaway? The best stories don't always come from luxury. They come from real life.

Amen to that.

Strangers Who Don't Stay Strangers

At the heart of Melissa's book is this beautiful idea: the people you meet while traveling often leave lasting marks on your life.

Like the fearless, wildly eccentric 70-year-old woman who wandered through Asia like she owned the place. Brilliant one moment. Totally unpredictable the next. A reminder that courage has no age limit.

Some connections last. Some don't. But all of them matter.

Why This Conversation Mattered

What I loved most about Melissa is her honesty. She's not a "perfect Instagram traveler." She's real. Curious. Thoughtful. Sometimes uncomfortable. Always growing.

Her stories remind us that:

• You don't have to be fearless to be adventurous
• You don't have to be perfect to be inspiring
• And you never know which stranger will change you

That's life. That's travel. That's storytelling.

Final Thought

If you love travel stories, human connection, honest conversations, and a good laugh (and you know I do!), The People You Meet is for you.

And if you missed our chat, don't worry—here's the podcast of our conversation so you can come along for the ride.

Because in a world that moves fast, stories like this remind us why slowing down, paying attention, and connecting still matters.

Onward!

Debbie