Adventure Travel Podcast - Big World Made Small
Welcome to the Big World Made Small Adventure Travel Podcast, where we go far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruises to explore the really cool places, people, and activities that adventurous travelers crave. If your idea of a great vacation is sitting on a beach at an all-inclusive resort, you’re in the wrong place. However, if you’re like me, and a beach resort vacation sounds like torture, stick around. You’ve found your tribe. My name is Jason Elkins, and as an adventure travel marketing consultant and tour operator myself, I am on a mission to impact the lives of adventure travelers, the tour operators they hire, and the communities that host them, creating deeply meaningful experiences that make this big world feel just a bit smaller. Are you ready to discover your next great adventure, whether that looks something like climbing Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa, SCUBA diving in the South Pacific, or hot air ballooning in Turkey? Then you’ll be happy to know that each episode of the Big World Made Small Podcast features a fascinating interview with an adventure travel expert that has agreed to share, with us, their own personal stories, favorite adventure destinations, and even some incredibly helpful tips and tricks they’ve learned while in the field. I trust that by the end of each episode you’ll feel like booking a ticket to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of these amazing places, and getting to know the incredible people that live there. I’ll be your guide as we explore this amazing planet and its people on the Big World Made Small podcast. I am a former US Army paratrooper, third generation commercial hot air balloon pilot, paramotor pilot, advanced open water SCUBA diver, and ex-Montana fly fishing guide and lodge manager. I have managed boutique adventure tour operation businesses in the Rocky Mountains of Montana, off-shore in Belize, the Adirondacks in New York, and the desert of Arizona. I also spent nearly a decade with Orvis International Travel, leading a talented team of tour operation experts, putting together and hosting amazing fly fishing and adventure travel excursions around the world. I have tapped into my experience and network of travel pros to put together a weekly series of exclusive expert interviews that I am excited to share with you. For the last couple of years I have lived a fully nomadic lifestyle, feeding my passion for exploration, creating amazing adventures, and meeting some of the most fascinating people along the way. I record every episode while traveling, so in a sense you’ll be joining me on my journey. Let’s discover some great adventures together and make this big world feel just a bit smaller. And, don’t forget to take a quick trip over to our website at bigworldmadesmall.com and join our adventure travel community, where you’ll benefit from new episode announcements, exclusive adventure travel opportunities, and special access to the experts you’ve met on the show. You can also follow us on social media, using the links in the show notes below. And, if you’re getting value out of the show please help us grow by sharing it with your friends, family, and anyone else you know that wants to get far beyond the beaches, resort hotels, and cruise ships, the next time they travel. I’ll publish another episode soon. Until then, keep exploring. It’s the best way to make a big world feel just a bit smaller. https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/podcast
Episodes
Guest Bio
Jerry Elkins is a lifelong adventurer whose journey has spanned skies, caves, coastlines, and countless open roads. He began flying hot air balloons in 1979 and, for nearly a decade, made his living as a traveling balloon barnstormer — eventually becoming the first pilot to fly in all 50 U.S. states. But Jerry’s adventures go far beyond the basket. Over the past four decades, he’s explored underwater worlds through SCUBA d...
Richard Lindberg
Founder & CEO
One Planet Journey
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/richard-lindberg/
Guest Bio
Richard is a serial entrepreneur and proven change-maker, leveraging 15+ years of leadership in sustainable finance and tourism for innovative solutions in the travel industry. As the founder of One Planet Journey, the authority on deep travel, he helps brands and destinations future-proof their operatio...
Anietra Hamper
Owner
ThreeWordPress
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/anietra-hamper/
Guest Bio
Anietra Hamper is an award-winning journalist, outdoor adventure writer, and founder of ThreeWordPress. After nearly two decades as a top-rated television news anchor and Emmy-nominated investigative reporter, she transitioned into the world of travel journalism, where she now specializes in destination storytelling and fishing...
Christopher Byrd
Founder & Managing Director
Adventure Cycling Thailand
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/christopher-byrd/
A formerly enlisted U.S. Marine that originally came from Maryland, Chris lived in Washington, DC for the last 12 years that he was living in the United States. Chris moved to Bangkok in April of 2002 and resided there until August of 2008 when he moved down to Hua Hin to include day tours and multi-d...
Tony Thorne
Managing Director
Wilderness Explorers
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/tony-thorne/
Tony Thorne first visited Guyana in 1988 as a Project Leader with Operation Raleigh and loved the adventure and rawness of the country. He returned in 1991 to watch the West Indians and Australians battle out a test match at Bourda Cricket Ground and decided to stay and accept a position to manage Timberhead Rainforest Resort. In ...
Dorothea Hochleitner
Extreme Solo Bicycle Traveler
IG @doro.on.the.go
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/dorothea-hochleitner/
Dorothea from Austria was a police officer for nearly twelve years before she decided to swap her stable job for exploring the world. She has now been on the road for more than two and a half years – first backpacking for 15 months through Southeast Asia and India, before switching the ba...
Vaibhav Kala
Founder
Aquaterra Adventures
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/vaibhav-kala/
Vaibhav has guided experiences from Morocco to the Inca trail, from the Colorado to the Yangtze, from the Futaleufu to Aconcagua, Ahansel to the Zambezi and from Kilimanjaro to the Everest trail. His leadership and expertise in both mountain and river environments, safety, risk management, knowledge, and impeccable planning has been the m...
Purvi Shah
Head of Sustainability and Senior Travel Planner
Kampur Travel Diaries
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/purvi-shah/
Purvi’s passion for travel was fuelled from the road trips and visits to national parks around Kenya with her family as a child. Some of her earliest memories are watching elephants at a salt lick in the Aberdares. During her university years, she travelled extensively around Europe, USA, South Amer...
Leigh Barnes
President of the Americas
Intrepid Travel
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/leigh-barnes/
Leigh has recently stepped into a new role as President of Americas, where he will oversee Intrepid’s expansion into the USA, the company’s fastest growing market. Leigh will manage direct, industry and white label sales as well as operations across North, Central and South America. Previously Chief Purpose Officer and then C...
Mariam Khuberashvili
Product Supervisor
Magic Roads Georgia
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/mariam-khuberashvili/
Mariam is an experienced tour guide and product manager with deep expertise in the Caucasus region, particularly in her home country, Georgia. She currently serves as Product Manager at Magic Roads Georgia, where she designs and develops unique travel experiences across Georgia and the wider Caucasus. With her ba...
Danielle Finch
Founder & CEO
Equera
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/danielle-finch/
Mission-driven and people-centered leader with 10+ years of experience driving global initiatives in operations, product, and project management. Passionate about creating scalable solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities, combining strategic execution with empathy-led leadership. Proven track record of mobilizing teams, fo...
Emma Valahu
Founder
Inbox Journeys
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/emma-valahu/
Emma is the founder of Inbox Journeys and helps experiential travel founders build an automated system that turns website visitors and social media followers into warm, qualified leads—without them having to manually nurture every prospect.
summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small podcast, host Jason Elkins speaks with Emma Val...
Christopher Hill
Founder and CEO
Hands Up Holidays
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/christopher-hill/
Christopher is founder of luxury philanthropic travel brands Hands Up Holidays and Impact Destinations, and serves his majority US-based clients from New Zealand where he lives with his wife, two boys, and dog, Zola.
summary
In this episode of the Big World Made Small podcast, Jason Elkins interviews Christopher ...
Karl Wilder
Founder & Director
The Chef Tours
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/karl-wilder/
Chef Karl Wilder is a culinary innovator whose career spans continents and cuisines. From his roots in New Orleans, where he reimagined Southern classics at The Country Club, to launching the acclaimed Empire Biscuit in New York City, Wilder has consistently pushed the boundaries of traditional cooking.
Previously, with b...
Samantha Smits
Founder & Sustainable Tourism Consultant
Smits SusTour Consultancy
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/samantha-smits/
Hoi! I’m Samantha Smits, a Sustainable Tourism Consultant based in the Netherlands and Tanzania. My goal? To empower you with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to create real change.
Originally from the Netherlands, I studied International Tourism Management at Breda University of ...
Siham Lahmine
Owner & Cultural Curator, Morocco's First Local >> Woman-Owned Culinary & Luxury Heritage Tours
Morocco Travel Organizer
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/siham-lahmine
Siham Lahmine is the mastermind behind Morocco Travel Organizer. Recognized for her talents in luxury bespoke travel experiences, she creates fully immersive tours showcasing Morocco’s highlights, cultural richness, and culinary...
Peter Syme
Partner
Tourpreneur
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/peter-syme/
Peter Syme. Ex military, Ex Large Corporate, Ex Tour Operators of multiple travel businesses in several countries. World wanderer and adventure addict, having visited over 140 countries. Now spending time building the world's largest community of tour operators with the aim of making them more profitable. To do so we work in the intersection of o...
Tamuna Tabidze
Director
Magic Roads Georgia
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/tamuna-tabidze
Director of the local branch of International tourism holding Magic Travels, previously Sales Manager with extensive experience of Business to Business Sales, working as Head of South Europe and Latin America Markets, later on North and Eastern Europe, MICE Department and as Chief Executive of Luxury department. With comprehensive know...
Phoebe Maina
CEO
Steri Tours and Travel | Kenya
https://adventuretravelmarketing.com/guest/phoebe-maina/
With over a decade in the non-profit sector and a smooth transition into private travel planning, I bring a unique skill set for individuals, corporate clients, and international NGOs. My background gives me a deep understanding of client needs, while personal interactions with Americans and Europeans help me tailor m...
Abdylla Geldiyev
Founder & Managing Director
Undiscovered Frontiers
https://undiscoveredfrontiers.com/
Abdylla Geldiyev is the founder and managing director of Undiscovered Frontiers, a boutique travel company based in Michigan. A lifelong traveler and advocate for immersive, culturally rich experiences in Central Asia, his journey into tourism began in 2005, when he was asked to guide an Italian writer/enthusiast re...
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