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
October 12, 2025 • 46 mins
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...
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October 5, 2025 • 53 mins
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...
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September 28, 2025 • 47 mins
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...
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September 20, 2025 • 47 mins
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...
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September 14, 2025 • 47 mins
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...
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September 6, 2025 • 44 mins
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...
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August 24, 2025 • 44 mins
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...
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August 16, 2025 • 47 mins
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...
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August 11, 2025 • 42 mins
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...
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August 3, 2025 • 44 mins
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...
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July 27, 2025 • 49 mins
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...
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July 27, 2025 • 49 mins
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...
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July 13, 2025 • 44 mins
My guest on this episode is Jane Adams, formerly Director of Partnership Relations for Advancing Women Artists. Jane shares the compelling journey of how a single mission, sparked by author and philanthropist Jane Fortune, became a movement dedicated to rediscovering and restoring works by women artists hidden in Florence’s museums and churches. This is more than a story about art. It’s about visibility, voice, and preserving women...
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July 6, 2025 • 45 mins
Today’s guest is someone whose life feels like a gentle invitation to pause, listen, and truly see. Meet Miyuki Seguchi, a bilingual travel expert, guide, and host of the Japan Experts podcast. Born among the rice paddies and mountain breezes of central Japan, Miyuki’s path has led her across continents and cultures, all while staying deeply rooted in her homeland’s rhythms and rituals. From working in top global newsrooms like The...
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June 29, 2025 • 44 mins
In this vibrant and heart-centered episode, we sit down with Vanessa K. Harper, co-founder of Travel Cuba With Us, Support the Cuban People, and Cuba Yoga Retreats, to explore the powerful intersection of ethical tourism, yoga, and humanitarian support in Cuba today.
Vanessa leads with purpose, offering deeply immersive cultural experiences that directly benefit Cuban communities. Through her travel company, she curates legal, peop...
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June 21, 2025 • 47 mins
What if planning your next adventure felt more like a conversation with a trusted friend than a checklist? In this episode of Speaking of Travel, I’m joined by Anna Jaffe and Harriet Brown of Mobi.AI, a powerful new platform reimagining travel planning through the lens of empathy, technology, and storytelling. Together we explore how AI is helping travelers find what really speaks to them beyond the filters and booking engines and ...
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June 15, 2025 • 48 mins
On this special episode on Speaking of Travel, we're joined by an editorial icon and storytelling powerhouse, Pilar Guzmán, Editorial Director of Oprah Daily. Pilar’s work is a beacon for those seeking purpose, presence, and deeper connection with themselves and the world. Under Pilar’s creative leadership, Oprah Daily has become a refuge for intentional living, infused with Oprah’s own ethos of transformation and balance. It’s a p...
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June 15, 2025 • 48 mins
On this special episode on Speaking of Travel, we're joined by an editorial icon and storytelling powerhouse, Pilar Guzmán, Editorial Director of Oprah Daily. Pilar’s work is a beacon for those seeking purpose, presence, and deeper connection with themselves and the world. Under Pilar’s creative leadership, Oprah Daily has become a refuge for intentional living, infused with Oprah’s own ethos of transformation and balance. It’s a p...
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June 8, 2025 • 48 mins
In this electrifying episode of Speaking of Travel, meet Alexandra Kinias, a trailblazer who’s shattering boundaries and redefining what it means to live boldly and age without limits. From breaking barriers as a mechanical engineer to making waves as a celebrated screenwriter and fearless women’s rights advocate, Alex’s journey is a masterclass in courage, creativity, and unshakable purpose. And she is igniting a movement. She’s a...
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June 1, 2025 • 44 mins
Today’s episode is a story of courage, healing, and choosing joy after heartbreak. Abigail Carter, a writer and artist, lost her husband in the 9/11 attacks and spent years navigating grief. But when the noise of life grew too loud, she listened to a quiet voice inside that said: Go. Abby left behind the familiar and moved to a small château in the peaceful countryside of southwest France. There, surrounded by sunflowers and slow, ...
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