WORLD FOOTPRINTS

This World Footprints show will journey to the Grenadines and unlock the mysteries of the sea in a way few seldom see or experience.  

Our first stop takes us to Bequia (pronounced Beck-way), the largest of the Grenadines.  Fresh from a dive at Devils Table with her dive buddy Cathy Sachs of Dive Bequia, Tonya and Cathy will recount their dive and why Bequia offers an unusual diving experience.  

Then we’ll visit Bequia’s Park Bay, home to the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary, where a native retired skin-diving fisherman affectionately known as “Brother King”, has spent  more than a decade of his life to helping to conserve the endangered hawksbill turtle.  

Many of the hatchlings are released into a protective area just south of Bequia called Tobago Cays—our next stop.  Lesroy Noel is the Park Ranger for the Tobago Cays Marine Park which lies in the southern Grenadines.  

Finally, we’ll travel just a short distance by boat to the private Palm Island where we’ll catch up with the island’s resident artist and (retired) medical professional Dr. Patrick Chevallier.  Patrick is one of the world’s premiere undersea artists and his character is as charming and colorful as his artwork.

Join World Footprints as we catch up with our good friend Peter Greenberg at the Travel & Adventure Show in Washington, DC.  Peter offers one very intriguing travel tip that is sure to raise some eyebrows.  Then we’ll introduce you to Dr. Kelly Bricker, Chair of The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.  Dr. Bricker will talk about the power of tourism and travel to implement positive change in society and we’ll get an update about the upcoming TIES conference.  Our good friend Kelly Schulz with the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau treats Tonya to lunch and a great conversation about what’s happening in New Orleans.  Finally, another good friend, Polish-born composer, guitarist and violinist, Lucas Lechowski (pronounced Le-hoff-ski) shares his unique artistry and musical styles with us.

The country of Russia celebrated a very successful Olympic and Paralympic Games and we thoroughly enjoyed our time in Sochi.  For us, the Paralympic Games were transformative.  We saw many examples of courage, strength, humanity and the belief that all things are possible, especially in the face of great adversity.

We met some amazing people and some colorful characters during our time in Sochi and you'll meet some of them during the show.   

You will receive a small taste of what we experienced during our time in Sochi.  On our way back to the U.S. we spent a long layover in Moscow and you’ll hear about some places you see during a short visit to moscow when Russian-American singer/songwriter Marina Verenikina joins us to talk about her hometown.  We had the pleasure of visiting some of the places that she mentions.

World Footprints is excited to take you on a journey through Colombia, South America where “The Only Risk is Wanting to Stay”.  Colombia was the featured country in the 2011 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and also had a presence in subsequent Smithsonian Folklife Festivals.  World Footprints visited the country and met with some of the artisans and other participants who have been traveling to Washington, DC to share the country's treasures.  When some think of Colombia they reflect on Colombia's dark history with drug cartels and corruption.  However, we saw a very colorful face of this country--one that reflected it's rich cultural heritage and warmth of the communities we visited.  We traveled to historic cities, through the Gold Museum and to Monkey's Island in the Amazon. The memories we left with included the wonderful food, gracious hospitality, architectural and natural beauty.  We fell in love with Colombia and we hope that you will also be inspired to visit the country with an open mind and open heart.

World Footprints will give you a taste of paradise as we journey to St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG)—a multi-island country of 32 enchanting islands and cays.  Of those islands only nine are inhabited and each offers unique accommodations.  We’ll introduce you to three of our favorite properties today.

Our first stop is Buccament Bay Resort on the island of St. Vincent.  Buccament Bay is a brand new 5 star all-inclusive resort surrounded by lush green mountains, rainforests and a white sand beach.  Resort Manager Christine Nelles will offer a virtual tour of the array of experiences that families, couples and business travelers can enjoy.  From the Liverpool Football Club Soccer School and Pat Cash Tennis Academy to the Harlequin Performing Arts Academy, and world-class cuisine the resort offers something for everyone. 

Our next stop is the island of Bequia, the largest of the Grenadine Islands.  Here we’ll introduce Bengt Mortsted, owner of the newly built Bequia Beach Hotel.  This boutique hotel is inspired by stylish Mustique villas and situated on the beautiful Friendship Beach.  Lush tropical gardens embrace the grounds and provide a luxurious and relaxing experience.

The private island of Palm Island, in the Southern Grenadines, and the Palm Island Resort is our final stop on this tour.  The resort is an eco-friendly, all-inclusive, 135-acre resort that is intimate with only 41 guestrooms and two villas.  General Manager Chris Ghita will entice us with a tour of the amenities, activities, dining options and accommodations.

Today we will share the legacies of two individuals who have put themselves on the frontlines in the fight against the crimes of drug and human trafficking.

Robert Mazur served 27 years as a Federal Special Agent for the IRS, Customs Service and Drug Enforcement Administration.  Five of those years were spent under-cover as Bob Musella, a high-rolling mob-connected big shot who infiltrated the criminal hierarchy of Colombia’s drug cartels. 

Bob’s under-cover stings proved critical in the conviction of General Manuel Noriega and helped cripple an international multi-billion money laundering outfit that served drug lords like Pablo Escobar.  His new book, The Infiltrator, provides vivid and nail-biting details about his life in the criminal under-world, including events that led to a $500,000 contract being placed on his head.

More than three decades after India won freedom and independence from Great Britain, a little girl from the southern region of India was stolen from her family and became a slave.  She was seven years old.  She lost her home and her identity.  She kept only her first name – Rani.

When Rani lost her value to her slave owner, he sold her to an American woman who thought she was legally adopting an orphan.  This adoption saved Rani’s life and the love and support she received in her new home has cultivated a commitment to become an advocate for the voiceless victims of human trafficking and a leader in the movement to end modern slavery.

Cruising is not meant to be dangerous or scary but it is; especially if you understood what really happens behind the scenes.  Whether you are a first time cruiser or have sailed the seven seas for years, there are things about the cruise industry that you probably don’t know. For as much enjoyment as a cruise provides there is a dark side to cruising that generally goes unreported.  Author and Saturday Evening Post contributor, Elizabeth Becker, joins us to reveal the dangers that passengers often face upon boarding.

As travelers consider the perilous possibilities on a cruise, in the sky or on the road, travel insurance becomes a paramount option.    If you’ve ever questioned the necessity of travel insurance or a medical evacuation plan, many frequently asked questions will be answered from executives at the TravelInsuranceStore.com and MedjetAssist.  You’ll also hear from a traveler who suffered severe injuries in Africa and how his care and rehabilitation was manageed through his travel insurance policy.

World Footprints continues to have a wonderful time in Sochi, Russia as the city plays host to the country's first ever Winter Paralympic Games.  Today we will introduce two extraordinary athletes who will inspire you with their stories of courage, tenancity and strength--skiier Stephanie Jallen and hockey player Nikkos Landeros.  Both athletes are in Sochi and are focused on bringing home a Gold.  We'll also introduce the mother of World Cup champion Stephanie Jallen.  Deb Jallen knows first-hand about what it takes to raise a champion athlete and she'll share her inspiring journey with us. 

Of SPECIAL NOTE:  As of Monday, March 10th, Stephanie Jallen won a BRONZE in the Women's Super G - Standing.

World Footprints is broadcasting from Sochi, Russia where we have just arrived for the country’s first ever Winter Paralympic Games @Sochi2014.  Before we left the United States, however,  we caught up with Taylor Imus, a young journalism student from Ball State University (BSU) who traveled to Sochi with other BSU student journalists.  She shared her Olympic experience and some helpful insights into this city that has gained tremendous international attention.  

You'll also hear from Charlie Huebner, the Chief of the Paralympics for the US Olympic Committee about the history of the Paralympic Games, the purpose of the Games and why they continue to be a mystery despite growing media attention.

Finally, you'll meet Patrick McDonald, a champion curler who is competing on Paralympic Curling Team USA.  We'll hear Patrick's inspiring story and learn more about this sport that is growing in popularity.

World Footprints will take you on an exploration of the wonderful city of Norfolk, VA. On today's show we will travel through rich historical neighborhoods like Ghent, meet fascinating residents like the Doumars Family—creators of the ice cream cone, and visit cultural attractions like the Chrysler Museum and Attucks Theatre.

From the Waterfront to the Freemason District, the Botanical Gardens, Nauticus and beyond, Norfolk offers a treasure trove of art, culture, history and culinary delights.