Soul of Travel: Women's Wisdom and Mindful Travel

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by ​@journeywoman_original​, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Hilary Matson as part of our Return to the Soul of Travel series. Hilary Matson is the founder of Yugen Earthside, a curated platform connecting mindful travelers to responsible package trips. After nearly a decade at Amazon in Seattle, WA, and Paris, France, she earned an MBA at HEC-Paris while specializing in Entrepreneurship and Inclusive & Social Business. She launched Yugen Earthside in 2021 as a bootstrapped Social Purpose Corporation. Running this company is her dream job, allowing her to combine her love of travel with her passionate advocacy for sustainability. Christine and Hilary discuss: · Entrepreneur journeys and the growth of Yugen Earthside · Creating responsible and sustainable travel platform models · B-Corp certification and the UN Sustainable Development Goals · Navigating marketing, visibility, and community in the travel industry Join Christine for this soulful conversation with Hilary Matson. 🌎​​​​​​​​ HerHouse is raising funding to get their app built natively by a professional developer team! Tess Millhollon and her team are excited to help make travel easier, safer, and cheaper for women across the world. Learn more and support the Kickstarter here!​ 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more about Yugen Earthside: https://www.yugenearthside.com/ Connect with Hilary and Yugen Earthside on your favorite social media network: Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook. Looking for an adventure in South Africa? Learn more about Yugen Earthside’s upcoming trip! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Hilary Matson (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by ​@journeywoman_original​, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with JoAnna Haugen as part of our Return to the Soul of Travel series. JoAnna Haugen is an award-winning writer, speaker, consultant, and solutions advocate. She is also founder of Rooted, a solutions platform at the intersection of sustainable and regenerative tourism practices, social impact, and storytelling. Through Rooted, JoAnna works with destinations, travel brands, tour operators, media and travel writers, and tourism professionals from around the world to unlock the power of strategic storytelling and tourism communications that shine a light on responsible tourism and destination stewardship. Christine and JoAnna discuss: · Connecting with our authentic selves and expressing that in our business · Challenges with embodying our true travel values · Exploring the ways in which barriers keep more travelers from being able to travel responsibly · How we can make choosing responsible travel a more frictionless experience · Getting ourselves outside of our comfort zones in our business · Learning from other industries and finding ways to inspire travelers and professionals to seek awareness, insights, and new ways to travel Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with JoAnna Haugen. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more and connect with JoAnna:https://rootedstorytelling.com/. Connect with JoAnna on your favorite social media network! Instagram / LinkedIn Subscribe to Rooted’s newsletter here. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). JoAnna Haugen (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Soul of Travel listener and past guest Becki Rupp would like to share her favorite conversation with Norie Quintos. Norie Quintos is a consultant for the travel industry on communications strategy, media relations, custom content, and messaging. She helps destinations and travel companies find and tell their stories through communications audits, seminars and training, coaching, and print and pixel projects. An award-winning journalist, she is a contributing editor to National Geographic Travel Media. Her interest areas are cultural tourism, indigenous tourism, regenerative tourism, diversity/equity/inclusion in travel, and transformational travel. She is a member of the Board of Directors of the Adventure Travel Conservation Fund and an advisor to Adventure Media, the Transformational Travel Council, Impact Travel Alliance, and Giving Way. Norie is the former executive editor of National Geographic Traveler and was an editor at U.S. News and World Report and Caribbean Travel and Life. Christine and Norie discuss: • Why it is the responsibility of travel content creators to tell a more complete story • Slow travel and why it matters to destinations & travelers • How to use travel as a place to create peace and find a sense of belonging in travel • The beauty of finding a travel brand that supports impactful causes and empowers Join Becki and Christine now for this soulful replay with Norie Quintos. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. 🌎​​​​​​​​ HerHouse is raising funding to get their app built natively by a professional developer team! Tess Millhollon and her team are excited to help make travel easier, safer, and cheaper for women across the world. Learn more and support the Kickstarter here! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more about Norie Quintos! Follow Norie Quintos on your favorite social platform: Instagram / X / LinkedIn 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Soul of Travel listener Lars von der Wettern would like to share his favorite conversation with Siham Lahmine. Siham Lahmine is the ground businesswoman behind Morocco Travel Organizer. She is a well-known name in the world of high-end and customized travel. The fact that she started Morocco Travel Organizer shows how much she loves making unique travel experiences that connect deeply with the cultural richness of Morocco. Siham's 10+ years of work in the tourism industry are marked by her deep understanding of Morocco's rich cultural landscape. Siham's main goal with this business is to create itineraries that are more than just trips; they are life-changing experiences that meet and go beyond the expectations of travelers in Morocco who are looking for luxury and privacy. Christine and Siham discuss: · Launching and building a business in travel · The value of cultural exchange through travel · Empowering communities and women · The importance of intentional community collaboration in travel and tourism Join Lars and Christine now for this soulful replay with Siham Lahmine. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more and connect with Siham: https://moroccotravelorganizer.com Connect with Siham on your favorite social media network! Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn Looking to explore an immersive Morocco culinary tour? Learn more here! Connect with Lars von der Wettern and learn more about Singular Places here. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Siham Lahmine (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Soul of Travel listener and guest Tara Busch would like to share her favorite conversation with Lydia Dean of Go Philanthropic. At twenty-nine, Lydia Dean left Florida with her husband John and young children for a life-changing global journey, eventually settling in Provence, France. Her humanitarian work took her through India, Asia, and Latin America, leading to the creation of GoPhilanthropic Travel and GoPhilanthropic Foundation, connecting travelers with grassroots changemakers worldwide. Her two memoirs, Jumping the Picket Fence and Light through the Cracks, chronicle her experiences from living in Provence to working with human trafficking survivors in Nepal and India. Today, she and John run Only Provence and Provence Life while continuing their philanthropic work. Christine and Lydia discuss: · Why we seek powerful travel experiences · How to give back in the most beneficial way while we travel · The possibility that the most powerful parts of the Journey may be before and after we travel · Truth, vulnerability, and connection for powerful change Join Tara and Christine for this soulful replay with Lydia Dean. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Visit lydiadean.com to learn more about Lyda’s work and the Go Philanthropic Foundation. Get in touch with Lydia on LinkedIn! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Lydia Dean (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Soul of Travel listener Deborah Campagnaro would like to share her favorite conversation with Elisa Spampinato of Traveller Storyteller. Elisa is passionate about travelling and people. Amazed by the richness of cultures and beauty that our world still retains, she is a profound believer that Tourism can be a crucial tool for positive change in the world. Supporting and promoting Community-Based Tourism and a respectful and sustainable tourism around the world is her fundamental mission. Christine and Elisa discuss: · How the work of community tourism helps people tell a story of two-way engagement · The power of asking questions to find better questions · Elisa’s powerful Community Storytelling workshops · How ethical and responsible storytelling helps to break down stereotypes · Ways to cultivate the stories of people and communities Join Deborah and Christine for this soulful replay with Elisa Spampinato. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more about Elisa and Traveller Storyteller here.​ Follow Elisa and Traveller Storyteller on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Elisa Spampinato (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine shares a soulful solo episode honoring Women's History Month. If you are new to the Soul of Travel community, we extend a warm welcome to you and would love to introduce the host, creator, and connector extraordinaire, Christine Winebrenner Irick. Christine launched the Soul of Travel Podcast in 2021, and since has passionately educated and inspired listeners to embrace mindful travel and celebrate women making a positive and revolutionary impact in travel and tourism. Named one of "2023's Most Influential Women in Travel" by TravelPulse, her commitment to transformational travel and gender equity is evident in every episode, with her podcast earning a prestigious Bessie Award from Wanderful in 2022. Her belief that travel combined with meaningful connections can transform travelers into agents of change has led her to interview over 100 women from various countries who are creating positive global impact. Christine also creates and guides transformational journeys to support gender equity, extending her influence beyond podcasting to champion purposeful travel and positive impact for women+. A mother of three daughters, she balances her professional passion with family exploration and finds joy in simple pleasures like reading and spending time in nature, drawing from her Montana roots. Through both her podcast and Lotus Sojourns, Christine has created an inclusive platform that amplifies diverse voices in tourism, consistently advocating for a more equitable and mindful approach to global exploration that inspires her audience to become conscious, compassionate travelers. In this episode, Christine shares: · Celebrations from our incredible Soul of Travel listener and guest community · Soul of Travel BEYOND, our new subscription platform · Wisdom, inspiration, and upcoming insights into the growth of Soul of Travel Join Christine for this soulful episode. Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Siham Lahmine. Siham Lahmine is the ground businesswoman behind Morocco Travel Organizer. She is a well-known name in the world of high-end and customized travel. The fact that she started Morocco Travel Organizer shows how much she loves making unique travel experiences that connect deeply with the cultural richness of Morocco. Siham's 10+ years of work in the tourism industry are marked by her deep understanding of Morocco's rich cultural landscape. Siham's main goal with this business is to create itineraries that are more than just trips; they are life-changing experiences that meet and go beyond the expectations of travelers in Morocco who are looking for luxury and privacy. Christine and Siham discuss: · Launching and building a business in travel · The value of cultural exchange through travel · Empowering communities and women · Personal growth through travel and adventure · The importance of intentional community collaboration in travel and tourism Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Siham Lahmine. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation on Buy Me a Coffee. Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more and connect with Siham: https://moroccotravelorganizer.com Connect with Siham on your favorite social media network! Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn Looking to explore an immersive Morocco culinary tour? Learn more here! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Siham Lahmine (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Support the show

Subscriber-only episode Send us a text Hi listeners! Welcome to Soul of Travel Beyond and to the second episode in the Women’s Wisdom Series. I am so excited to bring you this content that brings together different perspectives from the women who have spoken to me over the years. They are not only leaders and innovators but wise and soulful women who share so much of their personal and professional journeys. This series will bring them together in a way that makes their wisdom even more powerful. I have loved going back and reconnecting with my guests in this way, and I hope you love these conversations too. If you’d love to hear from my guests on a certain topic as a part of your Beyond subscription, please send me an email to souloftravelpodcast@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you. As subscription holders, you have access to this subscriber-only content and an invitation to exclusive Soul of Travel: Beyond conversations. I cannot wait to share these experiences with you! Today, let’s continue our Women’s Wisdom journey by taking a closer look at burnout, hustle culture, and rest, how these show up in our lives and business, and ways to care for ourselves and honor ourselves to stay in alignment and balance. Today's Guests: Carla Campos Mickela Mallozzi Poonam Rowat-Hahne Lila Fox Carly Oduardo Christine Winebrenner Irick Enjoy your journey, Christine Subscribe to BEYOND!

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Allison Fleece. Allison Fleece is the co-founder of WHOA Travel, a boutique adventure travel company founded in 2013. Operating adventures and experiences on all seven continents for over 12 years, Allison has learned a thing or two about curating meaningful travel experiences. WHOA was founded as and is a leader in women’s adventure travel and in recent years has grown to expand their travel experiences to include more —families, corporate groups, custom experiences, solo travelers among others. WHOA’s thoughtful & unique style of adventuring has been recognized in publications such as the New York Times, Travel & Leisure, and National Geographic. WHOA is proudly Women Owned (WBENC), a member of 1% for the planet, and Allison serves as an Ambassador for the Adventure Travel Trade Association. Christine and Allison discuss: · The mountains we climb literally and figuratively in our business, our lives and in our travel experiences · How the values that have carried WHOA travel from day one persist through today · Focusing on supporting and empowering women as travelers as well as elevating women in the adventure travel industry globally · Climbing Kilimanjaro · The value of group travel and the ways WOAH supports UNSDG’s Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Allison Fleece. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation on Buy Me a Coffee. Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more and connect with Allison https://www.whoatravel.com Connect with Allison on your favorite social media network! Instagram / Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Allison Fleece (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Support the show

Send us a text In this special International Women’s Day episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, we are thrilled to share the inspiring wmnsWORK 2025 Demo Day presentations. wmnsWORK helps women and non-binary folks build thriving tourism businesses through education, mentorship and community. wmnsWORK is an accelerator focused on women and non-binary early-stage entrepreneurs designed to help you get a leg up on your tourism business and rally a community while you build it. They do this through 3 main pillars: Education, Mentorship, and Community. The goal of wmnsWORK is to flatten the learning curve when it comes to industry knowledge and entrepreneurship, helping you reach your goals faster and with more fun through 12 weeks of expert-led workshops, mentorship, and community. Demo Day is your chance to learn more about what these inspiring wmnsWORK Cohort 5 grads have been up to. They've worked so hard to refine their pitches and business offerings, and are excited to share them with the tourism industry at large. Through each company's 5-minute pitch, you'll get a glimpse of their passion and dedication as they unveil their unique ventures to fellow members of the tourism industry, and learn how YOU can support them. From tour operators to travel designers, it's a diverse lineup that captures the essence of the evolving tourism landscape. We encourage you to connect and collaborate with these fabulous wmn+! Featuring Buoyant Travel, GINI, Common Healing, AdventurUs, Transformative Journeys, ATWASI, Komasa Collection, Scotland Hikes and Tours, Immersive Local Adventures (ILA), and Off Da Rock Bahamas. Join us for this special soulful presentation from the graduates of WmnsWork Cohort 5 in celebration of both International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. Make a difference by making a donation on Buy Me a Coffee. Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Visit https://wmnswork.com/ to learn more about the Tourism Business Accelerator program and support their efforts to support women and non-binary early-stage entrepreneurs. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). wmnsWORK Tourism Business Accelerator Cohort 5 Graduates. Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Dr. Rachel Graham. Dr. Rachel T. Graham is the founder and Executive Director of the international non-profit MarAlliance. Dr. Graham is an award-winning marine conservation scientist with over 30 years living in Central America and experience in development, environment and marine projects in Latin America, Africa, and Oceania. She and her team work towards win-win strategies to rewild the seas with endangered marine wildlife while improving local knowledge, livelihoods, and leadership capacities, notably to improve the sustainability of small-scale fisheries and wildlife tourism to build resilience in the face of impacts such as pandemics and climate change. Her innovative and collaborative work set standards and critical baselines to measure marine wildlife populations, and led to conservation and policy wins, notably the creation and expansion of protected areas, marine species protection, and a first with the ban of fishing nets in Belize. She is most proud of her two sea-loving boys and her diverse and talented team at MarAlliance. Christine and Rachel discuss: · The importance of collaboration and involving local communities and fishermen in marine conservation · The ways she brings purpose, nature and connection into developing conservation programs · How tourism can be designed to strengthen conservation efforts · Efforts to get women more involved in science & conservation and SCUBA diving in Guna Yala, Panama Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Rachel Graham. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. Make a difference by making a donation on Buy Me a Coffee. Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more about MarAlliance and connect with Rachel: https://www.maralliance.org Connect with Rachel on your favorite social media network! Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Dr. Rachel Graham (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Zoe Shapiro. When Zoe moved to Italy for what she thought would be one year of remote work, she found herself drawn to a culture that prioritized pleasure and personality over professional credentials. She discovered a new way of experiencing life and found that she couldn’t leave. Her lifelong passion for travel had always driven her forward, never letting budget constraints or solo status hinder her adventures. She launched Stellavision to provide a unique platform that celebrates and connects smart, independent women who share her vision of immersive, culturally rich travel experiences, focusing particularly on introducing travelers to Italy's hidden gems and authentic cultural pulse. Christine and Zoe discuss: · The year-long adventure to Italy that became a lifelong journey · Creating a welcoming and inclusive travel experience, especially creating size-inclusive travel · The fun and freedom women can have when traveling in smaller groups Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Zoe Shapiro. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app. 🌎​​ Learn more about Stellavision Travel and connect with Zoe: stellavisiontravel.com Connect with Zoe on Instagram! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Zoe Shapiro (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Rebe Huntman. Rebe is a memoirist, essayist and poet who writes at the intersections of feminism, world religion and spirituality. Rebe holds an MFA in creative nonfiction from The Ohio State University and lives in Delaware, Ohio and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. She is also the author of “My Mother in Havana: A Memoir of Magic and Miricle” released February 18, 2025. In her book she offers a window into the extraordinary world of Afro-Cuban gods and ghosts and the dances and rituals that call them forth. As she explores the memory of her own mother, interlacing it with her search for the sacred feminine, Reebe leads us into a world of séance and sacrifice, pilgrimage and sacred dance, which resurrect her mother and bring her face to face with a larger version of herself. Christine and Rebe discuss: · The draw of the pilgrimage quest and why that pull is so strong · Connection and disconnection when we travel and what it’s like when you leave your camera behind · Growing awareness of colonization and the deep complexities we witness when we travel · Rebe’s new book, My Mother in Havana: A Memoir of Magic and Miracle 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more and connect with Rebe: https://www.rebehuntman.com. Connect with Rebe on your favorite social media network! Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn Ready to read My Mother in Havana: A Memoir of Magic & Miracle? Available for purchase on Amazon and Bookshop! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Beth Kruger. Beth curates wellness retreats and experiences for women over 40 that focus on the core pillars of a healthy lifestyle: nutritious food, movement, stress reduction, and relationships. Her transformative experiences support the transitions of midlife by normalizing and celebrating the aspects of living well, of aging with grace and purpose, and of gaining wisdom and confidence in a female body surrounded by a culture that is obsessed with the physical appearance of youth. Her retreats are curated for women in midlife, highlighting connections and community with other women, spa experiences, healthy meals, educational workshops, and daily movement as well as mindfulness experiences like a sound sanctuary, yoga nidra, and more. She is dedicated to working with women over 40 as they create their dream retreats, and she also is accepting one-on-one clients and small group cohorts. Christine and Beth discuss: · The confusion many women feel at different stages of life · The lack of information available to help women navigate puberty, child-birthing years, and perimenopause · How Beth and Christine became information-seekers and were moved to create spaces to share · The long-term habits that lead to burnout – and how to avoid it Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Beth Kruger. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more about Women’s Room and connect with Beth: https://www.bethkruger.com/. Connect with Beth! Instagram / LinkedIn / Facebook. Looking for a life-changing retreat for women over 40? Learn more! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Beth Kruger (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Tania Carriere. Tania Carriere is the founder and CEO of Advivum Inc., a leadership transformation company, and its subsidiary, Advivum Journeys, a global retreats company and industry leader in Transformational Travel Design. She is an ICF Professional Certified Coach, holds an MPA from Western University, and has been featured in Elle, Conde Nast Traveller, Psychologies Magazine, the Telegraph, and the Guardian. She is an Adjunct Faculty at the Modern Elder Academy and a regular contributor to several international blogs on personal leadership, midlife and travel. As an Epiphany Designer and transformational travel retreat leader, she creates deeply engaging learning journeys that focus on personal vision, fulfillment, and life design, giving her participants a renewed sense of inspiration, balance, and direction. Christine and Tania discuss: · The importance of investing in ourselves · How travel helps us to learn more about ourselves, our beliefs and our behaviors and can show us how we may want to make changes in our daily lives · Tania’s TEDx talk, Navigating the Messy Middle and 5 lessons we can use to navigate change · How travel is a great teacher in navigating change and getting comfortable with discomfort Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Tania Carriere. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more about Advivum Journeys and connect with Tania: www.advivumjourneys.ca. Connect with Tania on your favorite social media network. Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Tania Carriere (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Aashi Vel. Aashi Vel is the founder and CEO of Traveling Spoon, a company that is changing the future of travel by creating meaningful travel experiences. Traveling Spoon provides travelers with private, authentic food experiences, from homemade meals to cooking classes, with locals around the world. The company has been featured in the NY Times, TIME magazine and Forbes as the future of culinary tourism. Most importantly, the company has a meaningful impact, not only on travelers but also on their hosts that are enabled to become micro-entrepreneurs, earning an income doing what they love. An industrial designer and patent holder with a deep passion for problem-solving, Aashi has designed several award-winning products. She is a magna cum laude graduate of the Savannah College of Art & Design and received her MBA from UC Berkeley. Christine and Aashi discuss: · The power of food in connecting people, places, and cultures · How she forms partnerships with community members to open their homes and share traditions and a meal · Aashi’s work as an industrial designer and how it helps her work as CEO and founder of Traveling Spoon Join Christine for this soulful conversation with Aashi Vel. Available Wednesday. Special gratitude to our partner for this episode, Explorer X and their newly launched Hero Travel Fund! If you’ve been dreaming of an extraordinary journey, one that takes you beyond the ordinary and into the heart of new cultures and perspectives, but the financial barriers have been holding you back, then the HTF is for you. Apply by 2/28: https://www.explorer-x.com/hero. Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Aashi Vel. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more about Traveling Spon at https://www.travelingspoon.com/. Connect with Aashi on your favorite social media network! Instagram / LinkedIn. Special gratitude to our partner for this episode, Explorer X and their newly launched Hero Travel Fund! If you’ve been dreaming of an extraordinary journey, one that takes you beyond the ordinary and into the heart of new cultures and perspectives, but the financial barriers have been holding you back, then the HTF is for you. Apply by 2/28: https://www.explorer-x.com/hero. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Laura Fernandez. Laura Fernandez has played a pivotal role in the audio industry at SiriusXM Media, a media group renowned for providing advertisers with unparalleled access to a dynamic portfolio of audio content. This includes live and exclusive content on SiriusXM, immersive streaming experiences on Pandora and SoundCloud, and a vast array of podcast networks featuring celebrated creators and hosts. As the VP-Head of Industry for Travel, Laura excels in developing media solutions that connect travel brands with their target audiences through these platforms. She expertly aligns SiriusXM's offerings with the needs of travelers, ensuring effective brand engagement. Starting her journey with SiriusXM Media in 2011 as a Sales Executive, Laura was initially tasked with launching the Las Vegas market's advertising sales. Her career swiftly expanded as she built and led new verticals for Casinos, Tourism, and Travel from scratch, harnessing the company’s resources to fuel her entrepreneurial vision. Her deep passion for both music and travel brings an emotional depth to her work, emphasizing the transformative power of audio. Christine and Laura discuss: · The power of podcasting to reach intergenerational audiences · Creating habits to maintain our health and wellness as we travel · Women Leading Travel & Hospitality Join Christine for this soulful conversation with Laura Fernandez. Special gratitude to our partner for this month, Explorer X and their newly launched Hero Travel Fund! If you’ve been dreaming of an extraordinary journey, one that takes you beyond the ordinary and into the heart of new cultures and perspectives, but the financial barriers have been holding you back, then the HTF is for you. Apply by February 28th: https://www.explorer-x.com/hero. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Connect with Laura on your favorite social media network! Instagram / LinkedIn. Discover your next favorite podcast at Sirius XM. Looking for information on audio advertising? Learn more at Sirius XM Media. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_ori Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Ketti Wilhelm. Ketti Wilhelm is the founder of Tilted Map – an award-winning travel blog and social media brand that shares actionable, realistic advice for how to make any kind of travel more sustainable. (It doesn't all have to be eco-lodges in the rainforest!) She's a dedicated sustainability advocate (with a Master's Degree in Sustainable Business & Energy from Bocconi University in Milan, Italy), an experienced writer (with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Montana), and an insatiable traveler, foodie and serial expat (having lived and worked in China, Italy, France, Spain and Nicaragua). She speaks fluent Italian, Spanish, and a bit of French, Portuguese and Mandarin. In addition to Tilted Map, her travel writing and photography have been published by many magazines, including Wanderlust, the UK’s most-read independent travel magazine, where she served as Sustainability Editor at Large. When not traveling, you can find her playing the Brazilian martial art of capoeira, or exploring the outdoors on a skis or a bike. She and her husband also lead group e-bike trips in rural parts of Italy that most foreigners never visit. Christine and Ketti discuss: · Sustainability in travel and how to make the conversation more accessible to greater audiences · Greenwashing in content creation and brand partnerships and how to avoid it · Carbon capture and shaping the tourism industry · Hyper-local bike tours in Italy with Tilted Map Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Ketti Wilhelm. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. Special gratitude to our partner for this month, Explorer X and their newly launched Hero Travel Fund! If you’ve been dreaming of an extraordinary journey, one that takes you beyond the ordinary and into the heart of new cultures and perspectives, but the financial barriers have been holding you back, then the HTF is for you. Apply by February 28th: https://www.explorer-x.com/hero. LOVE these soulful conversations? We rely on listener support to produce our podcast! Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! Listener reviews help expand our reach and help us rise up the ranks! Rate and review your favorite episodes on Apple Podcasts or your preferred podcast app. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Connect with Ketti on your favorite social media network! Instagram / LinkedIn / YouTube / Facebook Learn more about the upcoming super-local Tilted Map bike trips in Italy at https://www.tiltedmap.com/biketrip/. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Support the show

Send us a text In this episode of Soul of Travel, Season 6: Women's Wisdom + Mindful Travel, presented by @journeywoman_original, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Robyn DeVoe. Robyn caught the travel bug at a young age while exploring Europe with her parents and was officially hooked while studying ecotourism in Fiji and Australia. Her professional career in the travel industry over the last decade has taken her to places near and far, from soaring over Arches National Park in a Cessna to snorkeling with sea turtles in the Galápagos. Today, Robyn finds true fulfillment in being able to help her clients unlock the trip of their dreams and ultimately spreading appreciation and support for communities and environments around the world through responsible tourism. When Robyn is not crafting itineraries, you can find her wearing her health coaching hat, helping her clients live their best lives, while she does the same, recreating in the mountains around her home in Bozeman, Montana. Christine and Robyn discuss: · The intersection of travel and wellness · Reframing travel by asking “why we travel” over “where we travel” · Robyn’s work as a Functional Medicine Certified Health Coach · Being a Dream Weaver in travel and life Special gratitude to our partner for this episode, Explorer X, and their newly launched Hero Travel Fund! Apply by February 28th: https://www.explorer-x.com/hero. Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Robyn DeVoe. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To read our episode blog post, access a complete transcript, see full show notes, and find resources and links mentioned in this episode, head to the Soul of Travel Website. LOVE these soulful conversations? Make a difference by making a donation to Lotus Sojourns on Buy Me a Coffee. Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! 🌎​​​​​​​​ Visit Explorer X to learn more about the Hero Travel Fund or book your next custom journey. Connect with Robyn and learn about her wellness services at www.robyndevoewellness.com. Chat with Robyn on your favorite social media network! Instagram / Instagram / Facebook / LinkedIn 🌎​​​​​​​​ Looking for ways to be a part of the Lotus Sojourns community? Learn more here! Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Find solo travel trips for women over 50 on JourneyWoman. Follow us on Instagram: @journeywoman_original, @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christin Support the show