Ever wondered what it's like to lock eyes with a wild gorilla or swim alongside marine iguanas that snort salt to regulate their bodies? Jessica Kelly takes us behind the scenes of her fascinating career as a wildlife travel journalist and photographer, revealing how an unexpected path led her from psychology studies to documenting life on all seven continents.
Jessica's story begins not with journalism school, but with a simple food blog called "It's Pop, Not Soda" that unexpectedly opened doors to food competitions and cookbook collaborations. When COVID claimed her event planning job, she transformed crisis into opportunity, taking over a travel section for a local newspaper focusing on nature-based destinations. The turning point came during a life-changing trip to Botswana during green season, where witnessing mothers with their baby elephants and lionesses hunting together left her forever changed. "It was just incredibly moving," Jessica reflects, "I felt like a different person after that trip."
We dive deep into Jessica's most memorable wildlife encounters, from exploring the Galapagos Islands (where she insists everyone must snorkel) to trekking with gorillas in Rwanda and spotting tigers on safari in India. She offers practical wisdom on balancing healthy fear with respect when photographing powerful creatures, selecting ethical tour operators, and the gear she uses to capture her stunning images—from her Sony camera to her strategically chosen mini drone that skirts weight restrictions in many places.
What distinguishes Jessica's approach is her authentic passion combined with journalistic persistence. She shares candidly about the less glamorous aspects of travel writing—the constant adaptation required, pitching stories for a year before getting a response, and finding unique angles when everyone on a press trip experiences the same activities. For those following in her footsteps or working with travel media, her advice is invaluable: allow time for organic discovery, lead with timely angles and never lose the excitement that makes each destination special.
Follow Jessica's adventures on Instagram at AdventuresAreWaiting as she embarks on upcoming expeditions with National Geographic to Portugal's Azores, Alaska for grizzly bear photography and French Polynesia for her first scuba certification. Her story reminds us that the most rewarding paths are often the unexpected ones.
Please take a moment to rate, review and subscribe to the Media in Minutes podcast here or anywhere you get your podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/media-in-minutes/id1555710662
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Angela Tuell (00:05):
Welcome to Media in Minutes.
This is your host, Angela Tuell.
This podcast features in-depthinterviews with those who report
on the world around us.
They share everything fromtheir favorite stories to what
happened behind the lens andgive us a glimpse into their
world From our studio here atCommunications Redefined.
This is Media in Minutes.
On today's episode, we aretalking with travel journalist
(00:32):
and photographer, jessica Kelly.
Jessica specializes in wildlifetravel.
She's written for publicationslike the Travel Rob Report,
smithsonian, condé Nast Traveler, insider, thrillist, matador
Network, lonely Planet, islandsTime and many more.
Jessica has traveledextensively through 60 countries
and on all seven continents andcalls upstate New York home.
(00:56):
Hi, jessica, hi, how are you?
I'm doing great.
Thank you so much for being onour show today.
Jessica Kelly (01:03):
Thank you for having me.
I'm excited.
Angela Tuell (01:05):
Yes, I'd love to start with you giving us some
background on your career upuntil this point.
Did you always want to be ajournalist?
Oh my gosh.
Jessica Kelly (01:16):
It's a bit of a weird story.
The short answer is no.
I went to Buff State in Buffalo, new York, for psychology and
marketing.
I did not go for journalism.
It sort of unfolded.
Naturally it was something I.
So I created, in about 2015, ablog after somebody told me,
(01:41):
like, oh, you always know thebest spots for wings or
margaritas or whatever and forsomeone new to the area like me,
this, it would be reallyhelpful if you put out advice.
So 10 years ago, I started ablog called it's Pop, not Soda,
because everybody calls it popin Western New York.
So I started this blog calledit's Pop, not Soda and it led to
(02:04):
just a bunch of things that Ididn't expect it to.
I was judging food competitions, I was helping write cookbooks,
and that snowballed into mewriting about food nationally,
(02:27):
internationally, and that wenton for years on the side to my
full time job where I was anevent planner.
So, fast forward, a coupleyears I did the same thing when
I wanted to start writing abouttravel.
I started a blog calledAdventures Are Waiting that's
why my Instagram name is what itis and just wanted to get some
(02:48):
travel writing samples out there, start talking about trips that
I've taken and start tellingstories with the goal in mind of
writing for other publications.
And it kind of happened thesame way.
I started doing some travelstories for local publications,
then national, theninternational and during COVID
(03:13):
actually, I moved out to upstateNew York where I met my now
fiance and, after losing myfull-time event planning job
because of COVID, I got anunusual opportunity during a
time where people really weren'ttraveling, to take over a
(03:34):
travel section in the localnewspaper out here when they
wanted to focus more on likenature-based trips New York,
catskills, adirondacks on likenature-based trips New York,
catskills, adirondacks.
And then that broke into likeNew England because we're very
close to a lot of New Englanddestinations and then branched
out from there.
And then, when things reopenedand they went back to the old
(03:58):
way of doing things, I was ableto kind of take advantage of
some of these invites and startbranching out and writing about
travel more and more.
And yeah, I've been doing itfull time I think four years now
.
But it's kind of like a weirdCOVID story.
You're like travel would reallybe what you'd be writing about
(04:19):
then.
But it worked out Right.
Angela Tuell (04:22):
Covid is not really where most travel writers
got there and started theircareers.
So that is wonderful to hearand in preparing for this
episode I saw that you love todive into stories through food,
culture, wildlife and adventure,but for the last few years
you've really dialed intowildlife travel.
What has made that one of yourfavorite topics?
Jessica Kelly (04:46):
I've always loved wildlife, but I would say the
turning point was probably endof 2022.
I went to Botswana with acompany called Desert and Delta
and we went in December.
It was green season, so alittle bit off season, but
that's the time where all of thewildlife have their babies and
(05:10):
it was just the most amazingexperience I've ever had.
I mean seeing seeing wildlifein their natural habitat with
their young.
It's just incredibly moving andI felt like a different person
after that trip.
It was just very humbling towitness those quiet, instinctive
(05:31):
moments, um, you know, justlike a mother with her baby
elephant, or like lionesses alltogether, or even we saw some
mating like just watching them,just interacting with each other
the way that it should be, notat a zoo, but like seeing how
they act in their naturalenvironment.
(05:52):
It was so special and eversince that trip, I feel like it
was a turning point for me.
Where it's?
I still focus on other topics,but it's definitely my biggest
passion.
Angela Tuell (06:06):
Wow, that's awesome, and I know that you've
had a ton of experiences.
You just mentioned a few, andthen you wrote to me with a
bunch of them as well.
What are some of the ones thatstick out the most in your mind,
besides the ones you justmentioned?
Jessica Kelly (06:19):
Oh gosh, I get this question a lot.
It's a tough one to pick a few,but can I name a few?
Angela Tuell (06:27):
Yes.
Jessica Kelly (06:28):
Okay, people love to ask what the best place for
wildlife.
One of my go-tos is theGalapagos Islands.
If you're going to go to theGalapagos Islands, please get in
the water.
It makes me crazy how manypeople go there and don't
snorkel.
Really, oh, you're missing somuch the amount of wildlife that
(06:49):
you see in the water there fromjust, oh my gosh, all different
kinds of sharks, hammerheads,um, white tips, black tips, um,
just all different.
And then, um, the marineiguanas diving down, that
slither through the water likesnakes and they eat the algae
(07:10):
off the rocks and then they havethis ability to come back up
and sun themselves to get warmagain, and then they snort out
the salt to like regulate theirbodies.
Yeah, they're bizarre, littlefreaky creatures.
I love them so much.
But just the Galapagos, thebird life and then the marine
(07:32):
life.
Unreal, and I would say anotherone definitely worth mentioning
is trekking to see gorillas inRwanda.
They are so human-like.
We share 98% of the same DNAwith gorillas.
Angela Tuell (07:48):
Wow, I didn't know that fact.
Jessica Kelly (07:51):
The way that they interact with each other is the
way that they interact withtheir babies.
There's these gentle momentsand it just, oh, it was.
I was an emotional wreck thewhole time watching them.
It was so special and, yeah,those are probably two of my
very favorites, but I mean, thelist goes on and on.
(08:14):
I can talk about them forever.
Angela Tuell (08:16):
I'm sure, and so to me some of those.
They sound fantastic.
It sounds a little scary too,coming close to some of of those
wild animals like sharks, maybethe gorillas.
How do you face those fears, ordo you not have that fear?
Jessica Kelly (08:47):
rush up against my leg or, you know, diving with
sharks, but I think that alittle bit of fear is healthy.
It's extremely important tonever lose sight of what these
animals are capable of yeah,when you're around wildlife
often, um, I think it's naturalto gain a little confidence,
which can be useful, but itshould never replace respect.
Um, these are very powerful,unpredictable creatures, and
(09:07):
it's crucial not to letfamiliarity breed a false sense
of security.
If that makes sense, most ofthe time they're not interested
in you, as long as you'rerespectful, um, but you should
always act with awareness andhumility.
That mindset will keep both youand the animal safe.
Angela Tuell (09:27):
Yes, and I'm sure always going with reputable
companies and guides when you'regoing.
Oh gosh, yes, yeah.
Jessica Kelly (09:34):
It's so important .
If you're going to I actuallywill touch on that a little bit
but do doing your research isreally important, not only to
make sure that you have a goodguide, but just like to make
sure that you're going with anethical company.
Everyone's kind of.
A lot of companies have caughton to the fact that that's
(09:55):
important to people and they'llcall themselves ethical.
But you have to do yourresearch and make sure that you
know they are yes absolutelyRight, because you can say you
are anything you want to say,exactly.
It's like people saying they'rethe best pizza in New York.
It's like, yes, you're probablynot at all.
Angela Tuell (10:16):
Or like the worst if you say the best right
Exactly.
Are there any wildlifeencounters you have yet to do
that are on your bucket list?
Jessica Kelly (10:25):
oh my gosh.
Of course I I feel like I'mopen to like any and all
experiences, um, but I would saya couple massive ones.
On my list right now is to getto the arctic circle.
I'm specifically focused oneither Svalbard in Norway or the
(10:47):
Canadian.
Arctic is supposed to be agreat spot for polar bears, so
that is very high on my list.
Madagascar is extremely high onmy list.
I've watched many documentariesand 90% of the plant and animal
life on Madagascar is unique tothem and I just feel like
(11:07):
experiencing that would besomething so incredible.
The Pantanal in Brazil is agreat spot to see, like big
snakes and big cats.
Sorry, I don't know if I want tosee big snakes, I feel like I'm
giving you literal nightmarefuel, but for those who want to
see them, they do have.
Angela Tuell (11:28):
I like the big cats, that's cool.
Jessica Kelly (11:32):
You can see pumas .
It's a great spot to seejaguars, they have anacondas and
it's supposed to be justbooming with wildlife.
And also Borneo.
I would love to see orangutansum, I got to visit, just got a
little taste as part of a biggertrip um, but I would love to go
back to malaysia and explorethat further and and do some
(11:55):
treks and see what we can see,um, but yeah, those are
definitely the biggest ones onmy list, but I'm I'm always open
to anything yeah, and I feellike it's kind of a trend.
Angela Tuell (12:06):
It's the same, as you know, general travel as well
.
The more you see, the more youwant to see.
Jessica Kelly (12:11):
Oh, the more you learn about too.
Like there are things that Ihad no idea even existed until I
met other like-minded travelerswho also love these kind of
adventure trips, and you knowthey're like oh, did you?
Like?
I last year I went to India todo a tiger safari during a trip
(12:31):
where I was working with a hotelchain called the Lila
Properties they're beautiful, bythe way.
I was writing a story for RobReport, but I added on this
tiger safari and was incredible,and I learned about it from my
friend, laura, who was inBotswana with me and mentioned
that you can do that, and shewas the one that even put it on
my radar because I just Iassumed that they were so rare.
(12:55):
I mean, they are a little hardto find.
People go and don't see them,it happens.
But yeah, I didn't even knowthat existed until I met her and
she told me that I did, yes,and I I went fully prepared to,
not because you know, I hadheard stories of friends in the
industry who, uh, went for acouple days and and didn't see
(13:20):
any.
And then, yeah, I actually metsomeone who used to be a guide
there and he said he took agroup there 10 different times
and he's like I was very unluckyand never saw them and we went
and I don't know if it wasbecause the day that I was there
it was an unusual time totravel to India, it was April
(13:42):
and it was very hot, very, very,very hot.
So the guides kind of knewthey're going to be near the
water sources and that's wherewe found them all so other.
So that was lucky.
That's the one perk of being inIndia when it's boiling hot
there.
Right, you want to see thetigers, yes, but yeah, we saw a
(14:04):
mom and her two cubs.
Angela Tuell (14:08):
So where are you mostly writing for currently?
Jessica Kelly (14:12):
Currently I write for the Travel.
They're under Valnet and theyare just a wonderful team of
people.
They focus on providingtravel-related content.
They do a lot of industry newsand wildlife topics, discovery
topics and features and theyjust cover a lot of great
(14:37):
material and the team is reallyfun to work with.
They also are really receptiveof my ideas, so I love working
with them.
I do some stories for RobReport that are more
luxury-based.
I do some kind of fun storiesthat are a little more
off-kilter and quirky forThrillist.
(14:58):
But yeah, I'll of, I'll alsokind of just look at the topic
and see, you know, this would begreat for for this contact and
sort of go that route.
I don't have anyone that Ireally regularly contribute to
other than the travel, yeah.
Angela Tuell (15:18):
So so how do you find your stories or decide what
your next story is going to be?
I?
Jessica Kelly (15:25):
I feel like it's just got to come to me.
I know that's a tough one forPR and you know I get that.
They have a job.
You're PR, you get it, but likeyou know, but sometimes as a
journalist you need to go on thetrip and just it needs to come
to you when you're meetingdifferent people and stories can
(15:46):
happen kind of naturally, basedon you know, even like things
that go wrong during your trip,and I mean that in the best way,
like for example, I wasrerouted and had a super long
layover in Kenya.
This is like one of my favoritestories if you have time.
So I had like a really longlayover and I was like you know,
(16:11):
if I have over eight hours, I'mlike, can I get out of here?
Like what can I see?
And so I looked into it and itwas right around the time they
got rid of their visarequirements into it.
And it was right around thetime they got rid of their visa
requirements so you could leavethe airport.
And I found a company who, for$120, would pick me up from the
(16:32):
airport in a safari vehicle andbring me on a safari to like,
yeah, to Nairobi National Parkand then bring me back to the
airport and I saw rhinos for thefirst time, with babies, and
zebras and hippos, and that'swhat I did during my layover.
(16:53):
So that is awesome.
Angela Tuell (16:55):
Right and I wrote about it for Thrillist.
Jessica Kelly (16:56):
That was one of my favorite.
That's so fun, but it's justlike you know.
So sometimes you go with a planRight, but then sometimes
something better happens and youjust like you know.
So sometimes you go with a planright, but then sometimes
something better happens andyou're like this is a story,
this is a story.
So they it's like you know, ifit's a great angle, I'm all for
it, but other other stories orother short form features need
(17:17):
to come to you when you're there, I think.
Angela Tuell (17:19):
Yeah, yeah, that makes complete sense.
What is the most challengingthing about your work?
You know being a freelancewriter and what do you wish
others knew maybe about thiscareer, but likely don't.
Jessica Kelly (17:32):
I would say the first thing that comes to mind
is just the constant need toadapt.
You're always navigating,shifting deadlines, changing
expectations, always navigating,shifting deadlines, changing
expectations, evolving platforms.
There's literally no autopilotand you have to stay sharp and
stay learning and stay open toreinventing how you work.
(17:53):
What I wish more peopleunderstood is that I me and
other writers I'm sure share thehighlights you know, and
there's so much to be gratefulfor in this industry, the
experiences we get to have.
But it's not all, you know,just good times and good
(18:14):
publication pieces.
It takes persistence anddiscipline and a lot of
behind-the-scenes hustle to makethis work sustainable.
That challenge is also what canmake it exciting.
You're never kind of stuck inone lane.
Angela Tuell (18:29):
Yes, yes, that is so true, so true.
You know, it always seems a lot, of, a lot of people are like
oh, what a dream life.
And you travel the world and itis amazing.
I'm sure that part of it, butit's work too.
I mean, you're there trying towork while you're on these trips
, or you have to come back andactually write to make money to
live.
Jessica Kelly (18:48):
Or things are pulled out from underneath you
all the time.
I mean it, just it happens.
Budgets, and you could have thebest relationship with somebody
or an editor, and just ithappens a lot and you have to be
able to shift your focus andadjust.
Angela Tuell (19:03):
Yes, yes, very flexible, I do Very flexible, it
can be tough, but you know, itkeeps it exciting, I guess.
It's not for everyone, right?
Jessica Kelly (19:13):
No, and that's what I'm like there's a lot of
good people are like, oh, how'dyou get started?
I'm like, listen, there are alot of great writers out there
that could produce great content, but it's the persistence of
like you have to be but likealmost like the level of spam,
right, like you have to.
Just like I followed up beforeI I'm working with a different
(19:35):
thrillist editor.
Now this this editor has sinceleft, but they used to have an
editor, andy, who I worked withfor years, who was in charge of
their, like, food and travelsection, and he was great and we
developed a great friendship,worked together often, but
before that I followed up for astraight year with ideas and it
(19:59):
was like I was ready to send onelast Hail Mary.
And it was like I was ready tosend one last Hail Mary and he
responded after a year from myfirst email saying, oh, I've
been meaning to get back to youand I'm just like huh okay,
that's what PR professionals andtravel writers have in common.
Angela Tuell (20:18):
We're doing that to you guys.
Jessica Kelly (20:19):
You have to be like annoyingly persistent.
I mean that in the nicest way,like don't harass people, but
right, but follow up.
Angela Tuell (20:29):
Yeah, there's a good balance and yes, and then
there's some journalists thatdon't want to be followed up
with at all and some that do.
Where do you stand on that?
Jessica Kelly (20:38):
oh, I don't care.
I mean, I think following up isfine and I usually, you know,
try to get back to everyone.
The only things that I reallyever ignore, I would say, is if
somebody sends something that isjust so out of left field and
it just shows that maybe theywere sending it to just a mass
list, instead of really beinglike, oh, she covers this, or
(21:00):
doing the research.
Oh, she covers this or doingthe research, um, but yeah,
other than that, I'm happy to belike oh, it's, even if it's
just a quick, like I can't go,or it's it's just not the right
time.
But let's stay in touch.
You know I try to.
Yeah, I'm perfectly fine withpeople following up okay.
Angela Tuell (21:15):
Okay, that's good to know.
What other advice do you havefor pr professionals?
You know who maybe would wantto host you on a trip or or when
pitching you story ideas.
Jessica Kelly (21:24):
I would say my biggest piece of advice is lead
with a strong and, if possible,timely angle.
I guess, like the nicest I mean, this is the nicest way.
If they can't, uh, easilyanswer why this story matters
right now, um, it's probablygoing to be a tough sell to
editors.
Just from my personalexperience, I'm always looking
(21:48):
for ideas that are not justinteresting but relevant,
something that adds to a largerconversation or uncovers a fresh
perspective.
And, you know, don't be afraidto pitch something fun or
unexpected.
If there's genuine excitementbehind the idea, I would say
just, you know just, andwildlife is my focus, but I do
(22:11):
other things as well.
So, as long as there's a, youknow there's a good angle, and
be willing to to talk to thepeople that you're reaching out
to and really dive into whattheir interests are, yeah, and I
would also say, sorry, I have afew pieces of it.
No, it's good.
I would also say you know,leave a little bit of time in
(22:35):
the itinerary as you're planningthe trips for journalists to
find their own stories as well.
Journalists to find their ownstories as well.
Um, nothing, I can tell youfrom just talking to other
people being on these trips.
Nothing seems to annoy them.
More is when than when.
Things are over scheduled andwe have no time to kind of
(22:58):
branch off and and find thedifferent angles that we're good
at finding, if that makes sense.
Yes, yeah, so that's the adviceI would give.
Angela Tuell (23:09):
I would say yeah, and especially on a group trip,
you know where you're all doingthe same thing.
It's so essential to have thattime, because you all can't find
the same story and go back tothe same editors or you know,
with those same stories.
Jessica Kelly (23:22):
Exactly.
Angela Tuell (23:24):
We must talk about that.
You are not only a writer,you're a photographer as well.
Was that always a passion ofyours, or how did it come about?
Jessica Kelly (23:31):
You know it was, yeah, All through, even high
school.
I would say even as a kid Iloved taking pictures.
But, like when I was younger,middle school and high school I
used to scrapbook and take a lotof photos.
And even all through college, Iwas always the one with the
digital camera, which thenturned into, you know, the DSLRs
(23:54):
and all the professional gearlater on.
But it has always been aninterest of mine.
I love capturing memories, Ilove going back and looking at
them and I would say it has,yeah, it has always been a
passion for sure.
Angela Tuell (24:09):
So do you still have the professional cameras or
do you use your iPhone?
Jessica Kelly (24:13):
Oh, I do both the iPhones take great photos and,
honestly, I've been on somewonderful trips and honestly,
I've been on some wonderfultrips, especially with I love
National Geographic and Lindbladexpeditions and I went to
(24:35):
Antarctica with them and theyactually had classes on iPhone
photography and that was goingto be geared more towards maybe
the bit of an older crowd of howto just get good shots on your
iPhone.
There are so many tools andsettings that will get you
phenomenal photos and they workreally well nowadays.
(24:58):
They work really well nowadays.
But I will say, once you getreally into the professional
gear, the pictures just don't.
They're just at a level where Ihave a hard time using just my
(25:19):
phone unless I'm going on acity-based trip.
I pretty much always my DSLRwhenever I can yeah, even for
city trips, but especially ifthere's wildlife involved or
anything, the photos are just socrisp.
I use a Sony a7 III and it'sgreat with a 24 to 240
millimeter lens and it's theperfect blend of like getting
(25:40):
close-ups and getting thosefurther away shots and it also
takes really wonderful videosthat you can use on, you know,
instagram, social media.
I also love GoPros.
Gopros are wonderful.
Use them all the time andupgrade them constantly because
every update they really seem topush the limits of the color
(26:02):
coding and the white balance andthey do a really great job.
And then I have a Mavic Minidrone.
It's not as good as the largerdrones, but drones have a lot of
requirements and restrictionsand the Minis are often under
the weight limit restrictions soit's kind of a loophole.
(26:25):
So, like um, for example, I'mgoing to french polynesia in
august and we're going to bedoing some footage of the whales
, hopefully.
And I brought up my drone andshe gave me all the restrictions
how we would have to go throughgetting it approved, and then
goes, wait, is it a full size?
And I was like no, it's a mini.
(26:46):
And she was like, oh, that'sfine, it's under the weight
limit so it's under the weightback so it's.
it's a good piece of equipmentwhere you don't have to worry
about that as much.
Yeah so, yeah, so that's what Iuse.
But I love photography andcapturing the moments, and it is
important to take a step backand be in the moment.
(27:07):
Sometimes I forget to do that.
I have to really tell myselfyou know, take your face out of
the camera, I feel you there.
Angela Tuell (27:15):
Yes, yeah, I love it.
Do you prefer?
Do you use your own photographythen, with articles?
Jessica Kelly (27:21):
Yes, anytime I can.
There's definitely somesituations where you know we'll
use Shutterstock or things fornews articles or things we have
to pump out quickly.
But if it's features and I'mwriting about my experience I
always like to bring in my ownphotography whenever possible.
I would say probably, like 85%of my articles are my
(27:45):
photography.
Angela Tuell (27:46):
Okay, okay.
So what are you the most proudof in your career so far?
I know the travel writingcareer hasn't been super long
yet, but what are you the mostproud of?
Jessica Kelly (27:56):
It might be unexpected it's not any award or
anything like that, but I thinkI'm most proud of my
persistence, the fact that I'vekept it going, because it's I've
been writing for 10 years onthe side and so I'm newer for it
being my full time gig.
But I've gotten the ability to,you know, keep it evolving and
(28:19):
stay true to the work, eventhough, even when things are
uncertain or difficult,freelancing, especially in this
field, demands constantadaptation, like we talked about
, and I'm proud of the way I'vebuilt a career, you know,
staying, chasing that momentumand making it something
sustainable and meaningful.
Yeah, and I'm just kind ofexcited to see where else it
(28:42):
goes.
Angela Tuell (28:43):
Yes, that is definitely something to be proud
of.
What about before we go?
Where are you the most excitedto travel, to coming up?
Jessica Kelly (28:52):
I have some good ones planned.
So this week I'm heading to.
I mentioned that I love workingwith National Geographic and
I'm going to experience one oftheir land expeditions.
So we are actually going toPortugal and we are going to
visit Sintra and Lisbon andPorto, but we're going to the
Azores with a marine biologistand a volcanologist, which I
(29:15):
think will be some incrediblecontent.
Yeah, because the Azores is allvolcanic rock, so that will be
very cool to have herperspective yeah um, after that
I go to alaska and there's a bigfocus on what we can see
snorkeling.
So cold water snorkeling, oh wow.
And then grizzly bears um, sowe're gonna try to film the
(29:39):
grizzly bears.
This will be my second attempt.
It's weather pending when youcan take those little planes out
, but yeah.
And then I'm supposed to getPADI certified.
Finally, I mostly do freediving and just snorkeling, but
I'm finally supposed to getSCUBA certified and go to French
Polynesia.
So some great things plannedthis year.
Angela Tuell (30:01):
Those do sound fantastic.
I do need to ask about thegrizzlies.
So you take a plane and justsee them from there, or do you
land and be on land by them?
Jessica Kelly (30:12):
Yeah, so you will be on land with them and how it
works.
So I think back in 2022, I wentto film the black bears and the
grizzlies and at the time theweather wasn't cooperating.
So what you need to do is takea small seaplane out to where
they are.
(30:32):
At the time, we were going tolake clark, um.
This time I have to look atwhere she has been going.
It's somewhere else.
We're still kind of organizingthat itinerary, but you see them
in the water hunting for salmon.
They wait for them to comeupstream and catch up and
they're just like fat and cuddlylooking and amazing.
Angela Tuell (30:57):
Wish they were cuddly, right, Don't cuddle them
though.
Jessica Kelly (30:59):
Right, they're generally.
You're usually on a boatactually, where you can kind of
see them pretty clear.
But, you're sort of out oftheir way, so I'm excited about
that.
Angela Tuell (31:12):
I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
That would be awesome.
How can our listeners connectwith you online?
Jessica Kelly (31:19):
I would say I mostly post my photography and
I'm really active on Instagram,so if they followed me there,
I'm I'm a follow backer.
No, it's not an official term,but you know it's like.
I love to connect with peoplewho love travel and love animals
and so, yeah, so it'sadventures are waiting
underscore some.
Almost every version of my name, jessica Kelly, was taken, so I
(31:43):
used my old website name, but,yeah, so, adventuresarewaiting
underscore, and I would love toconnect with people who you know
are curious about it, havesimilar interests and, yeah,
just want to see some funpictures.
I would love to see theirs.
So, yeah, I would say that'sthe best way.
Angela Tuell (32:00):
Wonderful.
Thank you so much, Jessica.
Jessica Kelly (32:03):
Oh, thank you so much for having me, Angela.
I really appreciate it.
Angela Tuell (32:07):
That's all for this episode of Media in Minutes
, a podcast by CommunicationsRedefined.
Take a moment to rate, reviewand subscribe to our show.
We'd love to hear what youthink you can find more at
communicationsredefinedcom slashpodcast.
I'm your host, Angela Tuell.
Talk to you next time.
Welcome to Media in Minutes.
This is your host, Angela Tuell.
This podcast features in-depthinterviews with those who report
on the world around us.
They share everything fromtheir favorite stories to what
happened behind the lens andgive us a glimpse into their
world From our studio here atCommunications Redefined.
This is Media in Minutes.
On today's episode, we aretalking with travel journalist
(00:32):
and photographer, jessica Kelly.
Jessica specializes in wildlifetravel.
She's written for publicationslike the Travel Rob Report,
smithsonian, condé Nast Traveler, insider, thrillist, matador
Network, lonely Planet, islandsTime and many more.
Jessica has traveledextensively through 60 countries
and on all seven continents andcalls upstate New York home.
(00:56):
Hi, jessica, hi, how are you?
I'm doing great.
Thank you so much for being onour show today.
Jessica Kelly (01:03):
Thank you for having me.
I'm excited.
Angela Tuell (01:05):
Yes, I'd love to start with you giving us some
background on your career upuntil this point.
Did you always want to be ajournalist?
Oh my gosh.
Jessica Kelly (01:16):
It's a bit of a weird story.
The short answer is no.
I went to Buff State in Buffalo, new York, for psychology and
marketing.
I did not go for journalism.
It sort of unfolded.
Naturally it was something I.
So I created, in about 2015, ablog after somebody told me,
(01:41):
like, oh, you always know thebest spots for wings or
margaritas or whatever and forsomeone new to the area like me,
this, it would be reallyhelpful if you put out advice.
So 10 years ago, I started ablog called it's Pop, not Soda,
because everybody calls it popin Western New York.
So I started this blog calledit's Pop, not Soda and it led to
(02:04):
just a bunch of things that Ididn't expect it to.
I was judging food competitions, I was helping write cookbooks,
and that snowballed into mewriting about food nationally,
(02:27):
internationally, and that wenton for years on the side to my
full time job where I was anevent planner.
So, fast forward, a coupleyears I did the same thing when
I wanted to start writing abouttravel.
I started a blog calledAdventures Are Waiting that's
why my Instagram name is what itis and just wanted to get some
(02:48):
travel writing samples out there, start talking about trips that
I've taken and start tellingstories with the goal in mind of
writing for other publications.
And it kind of happened thesame way.
I started doing some travelstories for local publications,
then national, theninternational and during COVID
(03:13):
actually, I moved out to upstateNew York where I met my now
fiance and, after losing myfull-time event planning job
because of COVID, I got anunusual opportunity during a
time where people really weren'ttraveling, to take over a
(03:34):
travel section in the localnewspaper out here when they
wanted to focus more on likenature-based trips New York,
catskills, adirondacks on likenature-based trips New York,
catskills, adirondacks.
And then that broke into likeNew England because we're very
close to a lot of New Englanddestinations and then branched
out from there.
And then, when things reopenedand they went back to the old
(03:58):
way of doing things, I was ableto kind of take advantage of
some of these invites and startbranching out and writing about
travel more and more.
And yeah, I've been doing itfull time I think four years now
.
But it's kind of like a weirdCOVID story.
You're like travel would reallybe what you'd be writing about
(04:19):
then.
But it worked out Right.
Angela Tuell (04:22):
Covid is not really where most travel writers
got there and started theircareers.
So that is wonderful to hearand in preparing for this
episode I saw that you love todive into stories through food,
culture, wildlife and adventure,but for the last few years
you've really dialed intowildlife travel.
What has made that one of yourfavorite topics?
Jessica Kelly (04:46):
I've always loved wildlife, but I would say the
turning point was probably endof 2022.
I went to Botswana with acompany called Desert and Delta
and we went in December.
It was green season, so alittle bit off season, but
that's the time where all of thewildlife have their babies and
(05:10):
it was just the most amazingexperience I've ever had.
I mean seeing seeing wildlifein their natural habitat with
their young.
It's just incredibly moving andI felt like a different person
after that trip.
It was just very humbling towitness those quiet, instinctive
(05:31):
moments, um, you know, justlike a mother with her baby
elephant, or like lionesses alltogether, or even we saw some
mating like just watching them,just interacting with each other
the way that it should be, notat a zoo, but like seeing how
they act in their naturalenvironment.
(05:52):
It was so special and eversince that trip, I feel like it
was a turning point for me.
Where it's?
I still focus on other topics,but it's definitely my biggest
passion.
Angela Tuell (06:06):
Wow, that's awesome, and I know that you've
had a ton of experiences.
You just mentioned a few, andthen you wrote to me with a
bunch of them as well.
What are some of the ones thatstick out the most in your mind,
besides the ones you justmentioned?
Jessica Kelly (06:19):
Oh gosh, I get this question a lot.
It's a tough one to pick a few,but can I name a few?
Angela Tuell (06:27):
Yes.
Jessica Kelly (06:28):
Okay, people love to ask what the best place for
wildlife.
One of my go-tos is theGalapagos Islands.
If you're going to go to theGalapagos Islands, please get in
the water.
It makes me crazy how manypeople go there and don't
snorkel.
Really, oh, you're missing somuch the amount of wildlife that
(06:49):
you see in the water there fromjust, oh my gosh, all different
kinds of sharks, hammerheads,um, white tips, black tips, um,
just all different.
And then, um, the marineiguanas diving down, that
slither through the water likesnakes and they eat the algae
(07:10):
off the rocks and then they havethis ability to come back up
and sun themselves to get warmagain, and then they snort out
the salt to like regulate theirbodies.
Yeah, they're bizarre, littlefreaky creatures.
I love them so much.
But just the Galapagos, thebird life and then the marine
(07:32):
life.
Unreal, and I would say anotherone definitely worth mentioning
is trekking to see gorillas inRwanda.
They are so human-like.
We share 98% of the same DNAwith gorillas.
Angela Tuell (07:48):
Wow, I didn't know that fact.
Jessica Kelly (07:51):
The way that they interact with each other is the
way that they interact withtheir babies.
There's these gentle momentsand it just, oh, it was.
I was an emotional wreck thewhole time watching them.
It was so special and, yeah,those are probably two of my
very favorites, but I mean, thelist goes on and on.
(08:14):
I can talk about them forever.
Angela Tuell (08:16):
I'm sure, and so to me some of those.
They sound fantastic.
It sounds a little scary too,coming close to some of of those
wild animals like sharks, maybethe gorillas.
How do you face those fears, ordo you not have that fear?
Jessica Kelly (08:47):
rush up against my leg or, you know, diving with
sharks, but I think that alittle bit of fear is healthy.
It's extremely important tonever lose sight of what these
animals are capable of yeah,when you're around wildlife
often, um, I think it's naturalto gain a little confidence,
which can be useful, but itshould never replace respect.
Um, these are very powerful,unpredictable creatures, and
(09:07):
it's crucial not to letfamiliarity breed a false sense
of security.
If that makes sense, most ofthe time they're not interested
in you, as long as you'rerespectful, um, but you should
always act with awareness andhumility.
That mindset will keep both youand the animal safe.
Angela Tuell (09:27):
Yes, and I'm sure always going with reputable
companies and guides when you'regoing.
Oh gosh, yes, yeah.
Jessica Kelly (09:34):
It's so important .
If you're going to I actuallywill touch on that a little bit
but do doing your research isreally important, not only to
make sure that you have a goodguide, but just like to make
sure that you're going with anethical company.
Everyone's kind of.
A lot of companies have caughton to the fact that that's
(09:55):
important to people and they'llcall themselves ethical.
But you have to do yourresearch and make sure that you
know they are yes absolutelyRight, because you can say you
are anything you want to say,exactly.
It's like people saying they'rethe best pizza in New York.
It's like, yes, you're probablynot at all.
Angela Tuell (10:16):
Or like the worst if you say the best right
Exactly.
Are there any wildlifeencounters you have yet to do
that are on your bucket list?
Jessica Kelly (10:25):
oh my gosh.
Of course I I feel like I'mopen to like any and all
experiences, um, but I would saya couple massive ones.
On my list right now is to getto the arctic circle.
I'm specifically focused oneither Svalbard in Norway or the
(10:47):
Canadian.
Arctic is supposed to be agreat spot for polar bears, so
that is very high on my list.
Madagascar is extremely high onmy list.
I've watched many documentariesand 90% of the plant and animal
life on Madagascar is unique tothem and I just feel like
(11:07):
experiencing that would besomething so incredible.
The Pantanal in Brazil is agreat spot to see, like big
snakes and big cats.
Sorry, I don't know if I want tosee big snakes, I feel like I'm
giving you literal nightmarefuel, but for those who want to
see them, they do have.
Angela Tuell (11:28):
I like the big cats, that's cool.
Jessica Kelly (11:32):
You can see pumas .
It's a great spot to seejaguars, they have anacondas and
it's supposed to be justbooming with wildlife.
And also Borneo.
I would love to see orangutansum, I got to visit, just got a
little taste as part of a biggertrip um, but I would love to go
back to malaysia and explorethat further and and do some
(11:55):
treks and see what we can see,um, but yeah, those are
definitely the biggest ones onmy list, but I'm I'm always open
to anything yeah, and I feellike it's kind of a trend.
Angela Tuell (12:06):
It's the same, as you know, general travel as well
.
The more you see, the more youwant to see.
Jessica Kelly (12:11):
Oh, the more you learn about too.
Like there are things that Ihad no idea even existed until I
met other like-minded travelerswho also love these kind of
adventure trips, and you knowthey're like oh, did you?
Like?
I last year I went to India todo a tiger safari during a trip
(12:31):
where I was working with a hotelchain called the Lila
Properties they're beautiful, bythe way.
I was writing a story for RobReport, but I added on this
tiger safari and was incredible,and I learned about it from my
friend, laura, who was inBotswana with me and mentioned
that you can do that, and shewas the one that even put it on
my radar because I just Iassumed that they were so rare.
(12:55):
I mean, they are a little hardto find.
People go and don't see them,it happens.
But yeah, I didn't even knowthat existed until I met her and
she told me that I did, yes,and I I went fully prepared to,
not because you know, I hadheard stories of friends in the
industry who, uh, went for acouple days and and didn't see
(13:20):
any.
And then, yeah, I actually metsomeone who used to be a guide
there and he said he took agroup there 10 different times
and he's like I was very unluckyand never saw them and we went
and I don't know if it wasbecause the day that I was there
it was an unusual time totravel to India, it was April
(13:42):
and it was very hot, very, very,very hot.
So the guides kind of knewthey're going to be near the
water sources and that's wherewe found them all so other.
So that was lucky.
That's the one perk of being inIndia when it's boiling hot
there.
Right, you want to see thetigers, yes, but yeah, we saw a
(14:04):
mom and her two cubs.
Angela Tuell (14:08):
So where are you mostly writing for currently?
Jessica Kelly (14:12):
Currently I write for the Travel.
They're under Valnet and theyare just a wonderful team of
people.
They focus on providingtravel-related content.
They do a lot of industry newsand wildlife topics, discovery
topics and features and theyjust cover a lot of great
(14:37):
material and the team is reallyfun to work with.
They also are really receptiveof my ideas, so I love working
with them.
I do some stories for RobReport that are more
luxury-based.
I do some kind of fun storiesthat are a little more
off-kilter and quirky forThrillist.
(14:58):
But yeah, I'll of, I'll alsokind of just look at the topic
and see, you know, this would begreat for for this contact and
sort of go that route.
I don't have anyone that Ireally regularly contribute to
other than the travel, yeah.
Angela Tuell (15:18):
So so how do you find your stories or decide what
your next story is going to be?
I?
Jessica Kelly (15:25):
I feel like it's just got to come to me.
I know that's a tough one forPR and you know I get that.
They have a job.
You're PR, you get it, but likeyou know, but sometimes as a
journalist you need to go on thetrip and just it needs to come
to you when you're meetingdifferent people and stories can
(15:46):
happen kind of naturally, basedon you know, even like things
that go wrong during your trip,and I mean that in the best way,
like for example, I wasrerouted and had a super long
layover in Kenya.
This is like one of my favoritestories if you have time.
So I had like a really longlayover and I was like you know,
(16:11):
if I have over eight hours, I'mlike, can I get out of here?
Like what can I see?
And so I looked into it and itwas right around the time they
got rid of their visarequirements into it.
And it was right around thetime they got rid of their visa
requirements so you could leavethe airport.
And I found a company who, for$120, would pick me up from the
(16:32):
airport in a safari vehicle andbring me on a safari to like,
yeah, to Nairobi National Parkand then bring me back to the
airport and I saw rhinos for thefirst time, with babies, and
zebras and hippos, and that'swhat I did during my layover.
(16:53):
So that is awesome.
Angela Tuell (16:55):
Right and I wrote about it for Thrillist.
Jessica Kelly (16:56):
That was one of my favorite.
That's so fun, but it's justlike you know.
So sometimes you go with a planRight, but then sometimes
something better happens and youjust like you know.
So sometimes you go with a planright, but then sometimes
something better happens andyou're like this is a story,
this is a story.
So they it's like you know, ifit's a great angle, I'm all for
it, but other other stories orother short form features need
(17:17):
to come to you when you're there, I think.
Angela Tuell (17:19):
Yeah, yeah, that makes complete sense.
What is the most challengingthing about your work?
You know being a freelancewriter and what do you wish
others knew maybe about thiscareer, but likely don't.
Jessica Kelly (17:32):
I would say the first thing that comes to mind
is just the constant need toadapt.
You're always navigating,shifting deadlines, changing
expectations, always navigating,shifting deadlines, changing
expectations, evolving platforms.
There's literally no autopilotand you have to stay sharp and
stay learning and stay open toreinventing how you work.
(17:53):
What I wish more peopleunderstood is that I me and
other writers I'm sure share thehighlights you know, and
there's so much to be gratefulfor in this industry, the
experiences we get to have.
But it's not all, you know,just good times and good
(18:14):
publication pieces.
It takes persistence anddiscipline and a lot of
behind-the-scenes hustle to makethis work sustainable.
That challenge is also what canmake it exciting.
You're never kind of stuck inone lane.
Angela Tuell (18:29):
Yes, yes, that is so true, so true.
You know, it always seems a lot, of, a lot of people are like
oh, what a dream life.
And you travel the world and itis amazing.
I'm sure that part of it, butit's work too.
I mean, you're there trying towork while you're on these trips
, or you have to come back andactually write to make money to
live.
Jessica Kelly (18:48):
Or things are pulled out from underneath you
all the time.
I mean it, just it happens.
Budgets, and you could have thebest relationship with somebody
or an editor, and just ithappens a lot and you have to be
able to shift your focus andadjust.
Angela Tuell (19:03):
Yes, yes, very flexible, I do Very flexible, it
can be tough, but you know, itkeeps it exciting, I guess.
It's not for everyone, right?
Jessica Kelly (19:13):
No, and that's what I'm like there's a lot of
good people are like, oh, how'dyou get started?
I'm like, listen, there are alot of great writers out there
that could produce great content, but it's the persistence of
like you have to be but likealmost like the level of spam,
right, like you have to.
Just like I followed up beforeI I'm working with a different
(19:35):
thrillist editor.
Now this this editor has sinceleft, but they used to have an
editor, andy, who I worked withfor years, who was in charge of
their, like, food and travelsection, and he was great and we
developed a great friendship,worked together often, but
before that I followed up for astraight year with ideas and it
(19:59):
was like I was ready to send onelast Hail Mary.
And it was like I was ready tosend one last Hail Mary and he
responded after a year from myfirst email saying, oh, I've
been meaning to get back to youand I'm just like huh okay,
that's what PR professionals andtravel writers have in common.
Angela Tuell (20:18):
We're doing that to you guys.
Jessica Kelly (20:19):
You have to be like annoyingly persistent.
I mean that in the nicest way,like don't harass people, but
right, but follow up.
Angela Tuell (20:29):
Yeah, there's a good balance and yes, and then
there's some journalists thatdon't want to be followed up
with at all and some that do.
Where do you stand on that?
Jessica Kelly (20:38):
oh, I don't care.
I mean, I think following up isfine and I usually, you know,
try to get back to everyone.
The only things that I reallyever ignore, I would say, is if
somebody sends something that isjust so out of left field and
it just shows that maybe theywere sending it to just a mass
list, instead of really beinglike, oh, she covers this, or
(21:00):
doing the research.
Oh, she covers this or doingthe research, um, but yeah,
other than that, I'm happy to belike oh, it's, even if it's
just a quick, like I can't go,or it's it's just not the right
time.
But let's stay in touch.
You know I try to.
Yeah, I'm perfectly fine withpeople following up okay.
Angela Tuell (21:15):
Okay, that's good to know.
What other advice do you havefor pr professionals?
You know who maybe would wantto host you on a trip or or when
pitching you story ideas.
Jessica Kelly (21:24):
I would say my biggest piece of advice is lead
with a strong and, if possible,timely angle.
I guess, like the nicest I mean, this is the nicest way.
If they can't, uh, easilyanswer why this story matters
right now, um, it's probablygoing to be a tough sell to
editors.
Just from my personalexperience, I'm always looking
(21:48):
for ideas that are not justinteresting but relevant,
something that adds to a largerconversation or uncovers a fresh
perspective.
And, you know, don't be afraidto pitch something fun or
unexpected.
If there's genuine excitementbehind the idea, I would say
just, you know just, andwildlife is my focus, but I do
(22:11):
other things as well.
So, as long as there's a, youknow there's a good angle, and
be willing to to talk to thepeople that you're reaching out
to and really dive into whattheir interests are, yeah, and I
would also say, sorry, I have afew pieces of it.
No, it's good.
I would also say you know,leave a little bit of time in
(22:35):
the itinerary as you're planningthe trips for journalists to
find their own stories as well.
Journalists to find their ownstories as well.
Um, nothing, I can tell youfrom just talking to other
people being on these trips.
Nothing seems to annoy them.
More is when than when.
Things are over scheduled andwe have no time to kind of
(22:58):
branch off and and find thedifferent angles that we're good
at finding, if that makes sense.
Yes, yeah, so that's the adviceI would give.
Angela Tuell (23:09):
I would say yeah, and especially on a group trip,
you know where you're all doingthe same thing.
It's so essential to have thattime, because you all can't find
the same story and go back tothe same editors or you know,
with those same stories.
Jessica Kelly (23:22):
Exactly.
Angela Tuell (23:24):
We must talk about that.
You are not only a writer,you're a photographer as well.
Was that always a passion ofyours, or how did it come about?
Jessica Kelly (23:31):
You know it was, yeah, All through, even high
school.
I would say even as a kid Iloved taking pictures.
But, like when I was younger,middle school and high school I
used to scrapbook and take a lotof photos.
And even all through college, Iwas always the one with the
digital camera, which thenturned into, you know, the DSLRs
(23:54):
and all the professional gearlater on.
But it has always been aninterest of mine.
I love capturing memories, Ilove going back and looking at
them and I would say it has,yeah, it has always been a
passion for sure.
Angela Tuell (24:09):
So do you still have the professional cameras or
do you use your iPhone?
Jessica Kelly (24:13):
Oh, I do both the iPhones take great photos and,
honestly, I've been on somewonderful trips and honestly,
I've been on some wonderfultrips, especially with I love
National Geographic and Lindbladexpeditions and I went to
(24:35):
Antarctica with them and theyactually had classes on iPhone
photography and that was goingto be geared more towards maybe
the bit of an older crowd of howto just get good shots on your
iPhone.
There are so many tools andsettings that will get you
phenomenal photos and they workreally well nowadays.
(24:58):
They work really well nowadays.
But I will say, once you getreally into the professional
gear, the pictures just don't.
They're just at a level where Ihave a hard time using just my
(25:19):
phone unless I'm going on acity-based trip.
I pretty much always my DSLRwhenever I can yeah, even for
city trips, but especially ifthere's wildlife involved or
anything, the photos are just socrisp.
I use a Sony a7 III and it'sgreat with a 24 to 240
millimeter lens and it's theperfect blend of like getting
(25:40):
close-ups and getting thosefurther away shots and it also
takes really wonderful videosthat you can use on, you know,
instagram, social media.
I also love GoPros.
Gopros are wonderful.
Use them all the time andupgrade them constantly because
every update they really seem topush the limits of the color
(26:02):
coding and the white balance andthey do a really great job.
And then I have a Mavic Minidrone.
It's not as good as the largerdrones, but drones have a lot of
requirements and restrictionsand the Minis are often under
the weight limit restrictions soit's kind of a loophole.
(26:25):
So, like um, for example, I'mgoing to french polynesia in
august and we're going to bedoing some footage of the whales
, hopefully.
And I brought up my drone andshe gave me all the restrictions
how we would have to go throughgetting it approved, and then
goes, wait, is it a full size?
And I was like no, it's a mini.
(26:46):
And she was like, oh, that'sfine, it's under the weight
limit so it's under the weightback so it's.
it's a good piece of equipmentwhere you don't have to worry
about that as much.
Yeah so, yeah, so that's what Iuse.
But I love photography andcapturing the moments, and it is
important to take a step backand be in the moment.
(27:07):
Sometimes I forget to do that.
I have to really tell myselfyou know, take your face out of
the camera, I feel you there.
Angela Tuell (27:15):
Yes, yeah, I love it.
Do you prefer?
Do you use your own photographythen, with articles?
Jessica Kelly (27:21):
Yes, anytime I can.
There's definitely somesituations where you know we'll
use Shutterstock or things fornews articles or things we have
to pump out quickly.
But if it's features and I'mwriting about my experience I
always like to bring in my ownphotography whenever possible.
I would say probably, like 85%of my articles are my
(27:45):
photography.
Angela Tuell (27:46):
Okay, okay.
So what are you the most proudof in your career so far?
I know the travel writingcareer hasn't been super long
yet, but what are you the mostproud of?
Jessica Kelly (27:56):
It might be unexpected it's not any award or
anything like that, but I thinkI'm most proud of my
persistence, the fact that I'vekept it going, because it's I've
been writing for 10 years onthe side and so I'm newer for it
being my full time gig.
But I've gotten the ability to,you know, keep it evolving and
(28:19):
stay true to the work, eventhough, even when things are
uncertain or difficult,freelancing, especially in this
field, demands constantadaptation, like we talked about
, and I'm proud of the way I'vebuilt a career, you know,
staying, chasing that momentumand making it something
sustainable and meaningful.
Yeah, and I'm just kind ofexcited to see where else it
(28:42):
goes.
Angela Tuell (28:43):
Yes, that is definitely something to be proud
of.
What about before we go?
Where are you the most excitedto travel, to coming up?
Jessica Kelly (28:52):
I have some good ones planned.
So this week I'm heading to.
I mentioned that I love workingwith National Geographic and
I'm going to experience one oftheir land expeditions.
So we are actually going toPortugal and we are going to
visit Sintra and Lisbon andPorto, but we're going to the
Azores with a marine biologistand a volcanologist, which I
(29:15):
think will be some incrediblecontent.
Yeah, because the Azores is allvolcanic rock, so that will be
very cool to have herperspective yeah um, after that
I go to alaska and there's a bigfocus on what we can see
snorkeling.
So cold water snorkeling, oh wow.
And then grizzly bears um, sowe're gonna try to film the
(29:39):
grizzly bears.
This will be my second attempt.
It's weather pending when youcan take those little planes out
, but yeah.
And then I'm supposed to getPADI certified.
Finally, I mostly do freediving and just snorkeling, but
I'm finally supposed to getSCUBA certified and go to French
Polynesia.
So some great things plannedthis year.
Angela Tuell (30:01):
Those do sound fantastic.
I do need to ask about thegrizzlies.
So you take a plane and justsee them from there, or do you
land and be on land by them?
Jessica Kelly (30:12):
Yeah, so you will be on land with them and how it
works.
So I think back in 2022, I wentto film the black bears and the
grizzlies and at the time theweather wasn't cooperating.
So what you need to do is takea small seaplane out to where
they are.
(30:32):
At the time, we were going tolake clark, um.
This time I have to look atwhere she has been going.
It's somewhere else.
We're still kind of organizingthat itinerary, but you see them
in the water hunting for salmon.
They wait for them to comeupstream and catch up and
they're just like fat and cuddlylooking and amazing.
Angela Tuell (30:57):
Wish they were cuddly, right, Don't cuddle them
though.
Jessica Kelly (30:59):
Right, they're generally.
You're usually on a boatactually, where you can kind of
see them pretty clear.
But, you're sort of out oftheir way, so I'm excited about
that.
Angela Tuell (31:12):
I will keep my fingers crossed for you.
That would be awesome.
How can our listeners connectwith you online?
Jessica Kelly (31:19):
I would say I mostly post my photography and
I'm really active on Instagram,so if they followed me there,
I'm I'm a follow backer.
No, it's not an official term,but you know it's like.
I love to connect with peoplewho love travel and love animals
and so, yeah, so it'sadventures are waiting
underscore some.
Almost every version of my name, jessica Kelly, was taken, so I
(31:43):
used my old website name, but,yeah, so, adventuresarewaiting
underscore, and I would love toconnect with people who you know
are curious about it, havesimilar interests and, yeah,
just want to see some funpictures.
I would love to see theirs.
So, yeah, I would say that'sthe best way.
Angela Tuell (32:00):
Wonderful.
Thank you so much, Jessica.
Jessica Kelly (32:03):
Oh, thank you so much for having me, Angela.
I really appreciate it.
Angela Tuell (32:07):
That's all for this episode of Media in Minutes
, a podcast by CommunicationsRedefined.
Take a moment to rate, reviewand subscribe to our show.
We'd love to hear what youthink you can find more at
communicationsredefinedcom slashpodcast.
I'm your host, Angela Tuell.
Talk to you next time.
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
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.