Adam Stoker, CEO of Brand Revolt and founder of Tourism IQ, joins Stephen Ekstrom, CEO and co-founder of Learn Tourism, for an open conversation about growth, innovation, and authenticity in the tourism industry. They reflect on their recent journeys, from time spent on a Michigan farm to speaking at industry conferences, and how these experiences shape their approach to leadership and learning.
Adam and Stephen explore what it means to build intentional communities in tourism, sharing stories that highlight the value of asking better questions, fostering gratitude, and cultivating a culture of continuous development. They discuss the adventurous spirit required in entrepreneurship, the importance of genuine relationships, and how hosting a podcast can become an unexpected tool for professional growth.
Throughout the episode, both leaders emphasize the need for authenticity, the balance between ego and altruism, and the power of curiosity to drive meaningful change. Whether you’re leading a destination, running a local business, or seeking to inspire your team, this conversation is filled with practical wisdom for anyone passionate about the evolving world of tourism.
Business Class is brought to you by Learn Tourism, the nonprofit academy - harnessing the power of science, business psychology and adult education to advance the tourism industry and build sustainable economies. Learn how to engage your community, win over stakeholders and get more visitors at learntourism.org.
Stuff You Should Know
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.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
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