Speaking of Travel

Speaking of Travel

Each week, Speaking of Travel host Marilyn Ball shares her guests’ unique travel experiences that are inspiring, uplifting, enriching and informative. Sit back and be carried away to places from around the world and right here in our own backyard.

Episodes

December 21, 2025 44 mins
On this episode of Speaking of Travel we welcome Christopher Hill, founder of Hands Up Holidays and Impact Destinations, two groundbreaking luxury travel companies redefining what it means to experience the world. From his home in New Zealand, Christopher shares the moment that changed the course of his life, a spontaneous volunteer experience that revealed the transformative power of meaningful human connection. That spark became ...
Mark as Played
Jonny Wright isn’t your typical wanderer. He didn’t storm out of his life in a blaze of rebellion. There were no slammed doors, no dramatic exits. Just a quiet moment staring at the ceiling, asking, “Is this it? Really?” That question led Jonny to pack a bag, stick out his thumb, and step into the unknown with more questions than socks. He didn’t want to escape life; he wanted to collide with it, unfiltered, unplanned, and occasion...
Mark as Played
In today’s episode, we explore a journey of resilience, reinvention, and rediscovering joy. Abigail Carter, a gifted writer and artist, faced unimaginable loss when she lost her husband in the 9/11 tragedy. For years, grief shaped her days but eventually a quiet inner voice whispered: It’s time to go. Following that calling, Abigail left the familiar behind and settled in a charming château in the serene southwest of France. Amid r...
Mark as Played
Peter Egan’s visit to Speaking of Travel revisits the remarkable journey he and his wife Barbara took in 1987, flying a vintage Piper Cub across a 7,000-mile loop of the United States. Traveling at a gentle 70 miles per hour and carrying only 20 pounds of luggage between them, they wandered from small town to small town, following the landscape like a winding storybook. Peter shares how the slow, low-altitude pace revealed details ...
Mark as Played
In this episode of Speaking of Travel, we dive deep into the art of reinvention, resilience, and storytelling with Peter Murphy Lewis, a global entrepreneur, storyteller, and creative force who’s built brands across continents, led teams through chaos, and turned collapse into catalyst. From living and working across South America to running a travel company and hosting a national TV show in Chile, Peter’s journey proves that leade...
Mark as Played
Looking for a retreat that goes beyond the usual getaway? Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Boone, North Carolina, the Art of Living Retreat Center offers travelers a chance to slow down, restore balance, and embark on a journey of holistic wellness. On this episode, I’m joined by Kelsey Daniels, Workshop Sales & Partnership Specialist. Kelsey connects transformational teachers and wellness leaders with the retreat’s mission, ...
Mark as Played
Practical travel gear isn’t just stuff in a bag but really is peace of mind. It’s survival, resilience, and the quiet confidence of knowing, “I’ve got this,” whether you’re exploring the far corners of the globe or facing a disaster right at home. In a world where unexpected events can strike at any moment, being prepared isn’t just practical, it’s empowering. In this episode of Speaking of Travel, we dive into the life skills, min...
Mark as Played
Speaking of Travel welcomes Leigh Barnes, the new President of the Americas for Intrepid Travel. Leigh leads Intrepid’s fastest-growing U.S. market, bringing curiosity, compassion, and care for the planet to every adventure. Leigh shares how travel shaped his path and leadership style and why responsible, small-group travel matters. He explains how Intrepid Travel inspires lifelong learning while staying resilient and innovative an...
Mark as Played
For over a decade, Speaking of Travel has been the place where we explore the heart of travel, connection, and community. And now we’re heading to the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago to uncover how adventure, comfort, and sustainability can come together to create truly meaningful journeys. Our guest, John Hadad, Group Co-CEO and Co-Founder of HADCO Group, is leading a movement through HADCO Experiences, one of the region...
Mark as Played
Airports are so much more than gateways to somewhere else. They are vital, caring parts of the communities they serve. In this episode of Speaking of Travel, we uncover how Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) is redefining what it means to connect people, place, and purpose. With air travel booming and AVL expanding through its bold AVL Forward project, the airport is more than doubling its space, unveiling a fresh new look, and creat...
Mark as Played
I’m excited to continue the Speaking of Travel + Leave No Trace TV series with Richard Crawford, host of the inspiring Amazon Prime TV series Leave No Trace TV. In this episode, we step into the heart of mindful and intentional travel, discovering what it means to move through the world with awareness, respect, and purpose. Ricky shares exciting updates from Season Two of Leave No Trace TV and offers a rare behind-the-scenes look a...
Mark as Played
Life doesn’t always follow the script we think it will. Sometimes, a single moment can shift everything and suddenly, you’re standing at a crossroads with a suitcase in one hand and your heart in the other, asking, what if? That’s exactly the journey our guest on Speaking of Travel, Julie Levin Caro, also known as Juliana, has embraced. After more than two decades as an art historian and professor, she stepped into a new chapter fi...
Mark as Played
On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we sit down with Colin McBeath, President of the Nantahala Outdoor Center, to explore the magic of the outdoors. With 30+ years leading hospitality and resort operations across the globe, Colin shares how tourism connects communities, drives recovery, and inspires adventure. Join us as Colin explores the power of partnerships, the evolving state of the outdoor industry, and the simple yet prof...
Mark as Played
Travel and tourism have always been about more than just places on a map. They are about connection, culture, and community. On this episode of Speaking of Travel, I sit down with Justin Belleme, Publisher and Partnerships Manager at RomanticAsheville.com, to explore how tourism in Western North Carolina has evolved, adapted, and thrived in the face of change. Justin’s journey is a story of full-circle dedication: from launching As...
Mark as Played
Vietnam today is full of color, music, and energy and is a culture that welcomes travelers with open arms. On this episode of Speaking of Travel, I’m joined by Steve Mueller, founder of Vespa Adventures, who turned his love for Vespas and travel into a business that shows visitors the real Vietnam. Steve shares how he fell for the country, his passion for vintage scooters, and how Vespa Adventures helps travelers experience bustlin...
Mark as Played
Welcome Abydylla Geldiyev, founder of Undiscovered Frontiers Travel and a true testament to courage and perseverance. Born and raised in the vast Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan, Abydylla’s story is one of relentless determination to overcome barriers and forge a path to share the magic wonders of his homeland and other lesser-known destinations with the world. Together we explore Turkmenistan’s dazzling and little-known treasures t...
Mark as Played
This week on Speaking of Travel we welcome Shari Leid, a connection coach, friendship expert, and creator of Table For 51. A former litigator turned champion of belonging, Shari spent a year traveling to all 50 states, sharing a meal with 50 strangers. What she discovered is simple yet profound: breaking bread isn’t just about food. It is about lowering walls, opening hearts, and finding common ground, even in a divided world. From...
Mark as Played
Hawai‘i is unlike anywhere else and not just for its breathtaking beauty, but for the living spirit that moves through its people, its land, and its traditions. In Hawai’i, culture isn’t a performance, but rather the pulse of daily life. On today’s episode, I’m deeply honored to welcome Ka’iʻini Aranaydo. Ka’iʻini oversees Kilohana, a groundbreaking and visionary partnership with the Hawai’i Tourism Authority and a multifaceted ini...
Mark as Played
On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we’re heading high into Colorado’s San Juan Mountains to uncover the charm and magic of Creede, a tiny town with a mighty story. Once a booming silver mining camp, Creede has transformed into a cultural haven where creativity and adventure collide. At the center of it all is the Creede Repertory Theatre, a nationally renowned professional company that’s been telling powerful stories at 9,000 f...
Mark as Played
On this episode of Speaking of Travel, we’re joined by the wise and luminous Judith Valente, an award-winning journalist, poet, and author of The Italian Soul: How to Savor the Full Joys of Life. Judith brings us into the soulful rhythms of Italy, a place that taught her to live not faster, but deeper. Drawing from her own transformation from the high-speed world of journalism to the stillness of contemplative life, Judith shares s...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Burden

    The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.

    SmartLess

    "SmartLess" with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of SmartLess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.