WORLD FOOTPRINTS

Television and radio personality Rick Steves headlines today's show.  Rick recently returned from a Mediterranean cruise and offers great tips in his newest Mediterranean Cruise guide book.   Learn tips and tricks of the trade from one of America's favorite travel experts.

We'll also speak to Dr. Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund, about her ground-breaking work to save this beautiful endangered animals.

Finally, think you know Detroit?  You'll change your perception of this great American city when you meet the founder of Detroit Lives!  Hear why Detroit is in the midst of a great comeback.

As travel experts we know that understanding new languages play an important part in the travel experience. But what about the journey of marriage?  World Footprints talks to best selling author Dr. Gary Chapman about his book, “The 5 Love Languages” and he'll walk us through the different languages that every couple should know.  This book has been on the New York Times bestsellers list for the last 20 years, and has now been translated in 40 different languages.  Dr. Chapman joins World Footprints to talk about his experiences teaching new love languages around the world.

Then, meet Colin Salisbury, founder of Global Volunteer Network.  He  joins us to talk about how his organization is connecting people with communities throughout the world.

Author Kevin Fitzpatrick takes us through a New York that very few know about as we explore "A journey into Dororthy Parker's New York."  After today you'll see a different side of the Big Apple and you'll leave wanting to know more about Dorothy Parker.

Then, former JFK station manager Claudia Oxee "tells all" in her book "

Actress Kate Linder, best known for her role as Ester Valentine on The Young and the Restless (CBS Daytime), also travels for a living as a United Airlines flight attendant. Really! Kate didn’t leave her daytime job even after landing the popular role on Y&R. She takes a break from Genoa City to join World Footprints talk about her dual roles and her work as Celebrity Spokesperson for the ALS Foundation. Then we’ll talk about the role that tourism plays in fostering peace with Lou D’Amore, Founder and President of the International Institute for Peace through Tourism. Finally, Casey Wohl, the “Getaway Girl,” stops by to share a few great destination ideas for a girlfriends’ getaway and the guys who are seeking a “mancation.”

On today’s show World Footprints explores the plight of the endangered Panther, we chat with one of the rising IZOD Indycar stars Simona de Silvestro, and we also view Catholicism through the lens with Father Robert Barron.  As a special bonus, we added some sound bytes and interviews from the DC Stop Modern Slavery walk to end human trafficking.

The Panther population has dramatically decreased but many efforts are being made to save this beautiful animal from extinction.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is at the forefront of the Panther conservation efforts and Park Ranger Sandy Mickey from the Florida Panther & Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuges joins us today to talk about some of these initiatives. 

Then, we enjoyed a chat with one of the IZOD Indycar series rising stars, Simona de Silvestro.  Simona is one of a handful of female Indycar racers and she is one of the most prominent racecar drivers on the track.  She is the first woman in Atlantic Series history to have earned the most wins and pole positions, and the IZOD Indycar Rising Star Award. 

Finally, we will talk to Father Robert Barron, the Francis Cardinal George Professor of Faith and Culture at Mundelein Seminary and a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago, about his PBS series Catholicism. This documentary illustrates the history and treasures of a global religion shared by more than one billion people around the world by exploring art, architecture, literature, music and all the riches of the Catholic tradition.

World Footprints will present two powerful stories of survival from unlikely human trafficking victims and how they’re using their ordeals to support other victims and raise awareness about this elusive crime.  We will also share the story of a former Peace Corp volunteer whose experience inspired the development of a new community-based adventure travel resource.

Holly Smith is not what many think a human trafficking survivor would look like.  She’s a blond American and was raised in a middle-class two parent home.  But when Holly was only 14 years old she was taken from her home planted immediately into the sex trade.  The trafficking incident was traumatic enough but Holly was also traumatized by the lack of support she received from law enforcement and social services after she escaped.

Stacy Jewel Lewis was a 19 year old student and aspiring actress when she was abducted by an elderly man who was working on behalf of traffickers.  Only after Stacy’s trafficker was arrested two years later was she able to leave the sex trade and begin rebuilding her life.  Today Stacy has returned to acting and playwriting where she uses theatrical performances to share her story and raise awareness about human trafficking.

Jack Fischl is a former Peace Corp volunteer who helped create a tourism initiative for a small village in Panama.  Upon returning from his assignment, Jack was inspired to continue the work he started so he built a powerful online resource, Keteka.com, that connects the dots between socially conscious travelers and Peace Corp communities.

World Footprints is pleased to share an hour of two very popular Book Club shows.  We'll travel through the lives of two celebrities and live vicariously through their pens.  Actress Gloria Loring (Days of our Lives) shares her tumulous life journey and where she drew the inspiration to keep moving forward in her new book "Coincidence is God's Way of Remaining Anonymous."   Gloria will also share the trials of parenting two teenage boys, including popular R&B star Robin Thicke.

British songwriter Billy Franks puts his whole life on display in his book "A Far Cry from Sunset" and he'll take us on an emotional journey as we explore his personal journey (which also includes his introduction and growing friendship with Prince Harry).

World Footprints travels from inside the Beltway to the banks of the mighty Mississippi River as we bridge two cities, Washington, DC and New Orleans with two guests who know a thing or two about both places.  Enjoy our conversation with political power couple James Carville and Mary Matalin--two people who have become a force for good in the Crescent City.

Emmy Award winning actor Eric Braeden, best known for his role as Victor Newman on the CBS Daytime Drama The Young and the Restless, joins World Footprints to share his travel experiences, early childhood memories and his adventures after immigrating to the U.S.  Then “gadget gurus” Ellen Barone, traveler journalist and publisher of several travel blogs; and John E. DiScala, better known as professional traveler Johnny Jet and publisher of JohnnyJet.com, join the show to share the latest travel essentials and travel tips.  Follow World Footprints on Facebook and Twitter @WorldFootprints for the latest travel information including travel-relevant legislation, travel warnings and best practices.

Jack Hanna, nicknamed “Jungle Jack” is one of the most notable animal experts in the U.S.  Jack took some time away from his many filming schedule, David Letterman and other show appearances to talk to us about the successes and challenges in the world of animal conservation. 

We are going to discover Cuba through its people with Tom Popper, President of Insight Cuba.  

Finally, hear how many travelers are leaving positive footprints when they Pack for a Purpose