Women Who Travel | Condé Nast Traveler

We've been spending a lot of time at home these days, which means more time staring at the art on our walls, the tchotchkes on our shelves, and the souvenirs we've chosen to display. It's also made us think about how to find more meaningful souvenirs on future trips—pieces that bring back memories of trips, a sense of place, or a glimpse of history. So, we checked in with Kiyanna Stewart and Jannah Handy, power couple and owners of Brooklyn's BLK MKT Vintage, to learn how they shop for and curate their store, which maps the Black diaspora through vintage wares and collectibles. (Plus, how they style their own souvenirs and vintage finds at home.) Their biggest tips? Have patience: Whether you're shopping in your own town or have to travel halfway around the world, be prepared to leave a shop or flea market empty handed should nothing speak to you. And think about function and purpose before spending on something that won't fit in your home, let alone your suitcase.

Follow BLK MKT Vintage: @blkmktvintage

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Find a transcription of the episode and links here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-to-shop-for-meaningful-souvenirs-women-who-travel-podcast

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This episode was originally broadcast in July 2019.

With music festivals on hold this summer, we thought we'd share one of our favorite episodes from last year, recorded live at Pitchfork Festival in Chicago. Lale teamed up with Pitchfork's senior social media manager Vrinda Jagota to chat about travel, music, and more with Lisa-Kaindé Diaz and Naomi Diaz, the French-Cuban sister act behind Ibeyi. We'll be back with a new episode next week.

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Vrinda: @confident_leader

Follow Ibeyi: @ibeyiofficial

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Since this season is sure to be unlike any other high season, thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, we've been asking a lot of questions about summer travel here at Traveler—from how much we'll be traveling, to how we'll be getting around, to where we'll stay. And this week, we're tackling all of those questions (and more) in one episode with the help of some top notch experts: associate editor Megan Spurrell and New York Times travel reporter Tariro Mzezewa. We hope our conversation gives you the information you need to travel to the beach or a remote Airbnb responsibly—or the blessing to stay home and plan for your out-of-this-world trip for next year.

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Tariro: @tariro__

Follow Megan: @spurrelly

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In the wake of ongoing protests against police brutality and systemic racism across the U.S. and all industries, much has been made of listening and learning—and amplifying Black voices in the process. Which is why this week, we’re passing the mic. Hosted by Them's executive editor Whembley Sewell, featuring Jessica Nabongo and Evita Robinson, our latest episode focuses on how the industry as a whole can and must step up for Black travelers. Whembley, Jessica, and Evita are all members of the Women Who Travel advisory board, women we've trusted to challenge us over the last nine months, and we hope in listening to this episode—hearing their stories and where they see opportunity for change—you can challenge yourself, too.

Here are a few women Evita and Jessica suggest following. Be sure to scroll back through their feeds to understand their full body of work.

Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/how-the-travel-industry-should-support-black-women-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Whembley: @whembleysewell

Follow Jessica: @thecatchmeifyoucan

Follow Evita: @evierobbie

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This week, we're joined by Moonlynn Tsai, co-owner of Bon Appetit Hot List winner Kopitiam, and Mei Lin, from the James Beard-nominated Nightshade, who share their stories about everything from how they've found support systems in other restaurant owners to what they're cooking at home right now, and, most importantly, how you can support the restaurant industry during this difficult time.

Their big advice? Spend your money, whether it be food or merch for now or gift cards for later, and order directly when possible, instead of through apps, so that your favorite restaurants can keep as much of their profits as possible.

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In light of the murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and countless other Black Americans, we would like to say, unequivocally, that Black lives matter. We stand with protesters across the country raising their voices against police brutality.

Donate to the NAACP here: https://www.naacp.org/

Donate to Black Lives Matter here: https://blacklivesmatter.com/

Donate to Campaign Zero here: https://www.joincampaignzero.org/

Donate to local bail funds here: https://www.communityjusticeexchange.org/nbfn-directory

We highly recommend subscribing to Code Switch, The Nod, and the New York Times 1619 podcasts to diversify your listening, too.

Since this week’s episode is all about women-owned restaurants struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, you'll find a list of Black-owned restaurants across the country to support.

Black-owned restaurants in New York City: https://bit.ly/36UXF1g

Black-owned restaurants in Washington D.C.: https://bit.ly/3eHHJ5m

Black-owned restaurants in Austin: https://bit.ly/3cr1c8P

Black-owned restaurants in Seattle: https://bit.ly/2MkVJWF

Black-owned restaurants in Minneapolis: https://bit.ly/3cudJbu

Black-owned restaurants in Los Angeles: https://lat.ms/2MqiQiC

We are committed to sharing Black women’s stories on Women Who Travel, and will continue to do so throughout our podcast episodes and all other platforms.

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Nikki Smith is a professional rock climber, boulderer, photographer, writer, and climbing guidebook publisher, with more than 150 first ascents under her belt. She also just happens to be transgender. An advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in the outdoors and an ally fighting for diversity and inclusion in climbing and beyond, she's taking a break from climbing during the pandemic, citing the risks to herself, her climbing partners, and potential rescuers. But that hasn't stopped her from finding refuge outside. This week, we chat with Nikki from her home in Utah about getting her start in climbing, how we can make the outdoor community more welcoming, and the women in the outdoors we all need to be following. (Plus, you can hear a few meows in the background of this episode from her adorable cats.) 

Read a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/what-rock-climbing-taught-me-about-facing-my-fears-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

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Follow the women Nikki shouted out in the episode:

Kareemah Batts, @herhopness

Irene Yee, @ladylockoff

Brittany Leavitt, @bleavitt8

Sam Ortiz, @samortizphoto

Jaylyn Gough, @jaylyn.gough

Piseth Sam, @mightymight88

Mélise Marie, @meliseymo

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Note, this week's episode of Women Who Travel is not on a Wednesday just because of the long weekend. We are officially moving from our usual Tuesday morning drops and, starting this week, all new episodes of Women Who Travel will pop up in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts on Wednesday mornings instead.

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With the near-constant stream of coronavirus news on our feeds these days, we understand if you want to run screaming from another coronavirus-related chat. But we promise this is not all doom and gloom. In fact, we hope that by answering some of the most frequently asked questions about travel and the coronavirus (Should you cancel a fall trip? Hop on a flight deal for later in the year? Use your vacation days now or save them for later?), we can give you a glimmer of hope about what's to come. 

Note that this episode was recorded on May 14. You can find all of our up-to-date coronavirus coverage and travel resources at cntraveler.com/coronavirus.

Find a full transcription of the episode here: www.cntraveler.com/story/we-answer-your-most-pressing-questions-about-coronavirus-and-travel

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

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This episode originally aired in June 2019.

In this wild time, Lale and I have found ourselves going back to the episode we recorded with Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert last year. Our conversation was filled with a little grief, a lot of joy, and plenty of travel wisdom—all of which we need right now to tide us over until we can travel freely again. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode.

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

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Unless you're an essential worker, chances are your work travel has slowed down a lot recently. For comedian and actress Catherine Cohen, the world on pause has meant postponing her upcoming tour in Australia and swapping her weekly show Cabernet Cabaret, at New York City's Club Cumming, for Instagram live performances streamed out of the Berkshires cabin she's currently self-isolating at. We caught up with Cohen to find out what it's like to be a performer who, well, suddenly can't perform like she used to, why solo travel isn't for her, and all the places she misses in New York City. Plus, she shouts out a few of the comedy venues around the U.S. that need our support—and the women in comedy to watch right now.

And while we have you, we have some exciting news: The Women Who Travel platform is nominated for a Webby award! The People's Voice vote is now open, so head here by May 7 to vote. We'd love your support.

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We need the escape that books provide now more than ever. So this week, we're joined by the National Book Foundation's Lisa Lucas, calling in from Los Angeles, and New York Times-bestselling author and Books Are Magic owner Emma Straub, who's currently self-isolating with her family in Brooklyn. Throughout the episode, we share the books that are transporting us to the places we miss (New York City included) and the places we’ve never been (and can't wait to get to). Plus, we have tips for getting out of a reading rut, how to support local bookstores when they need it most, and more.

What we're reading right now:

All Adults Here by Emma Straub

Surviving Autocracy by Mashe Gessen

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid

Heartburn by Nora Ephron

The Most of Nora Ephron by Nora Ephron

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

Arbitrary Stupid Goal by Tamara Shopsin

Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots by Deborah Feldman

The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante

The Lying Life of Adults by Elena Ferrante]

A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Eagan

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (Preorder, out June 2)

Middlemarch by George Elliot (a.k.a Mary Ann Evans)

Saga by Brian K. Vaughan, illustrated by Fiona Staples

Writers & Lovers by Lily King

My Autobiography of Carson McCullers: A Memoir by Jenn Shepland

The Paper Girl of Paris by Jordyn Taylor (Preorder, out May 26)

Find a full transcription of the episode here: https://www.cntraveler.com/story/the-books-were-turning-to-right-now-women-who-travel-podcast

Follow Meredith: @ohheytheremere

Follow Lale: @lalehannah

Follow Women Who Travel: @womenwhotravel

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