Soul of Travel: Women's Empowerment and Travel Podcast

In the final episode of Soul of Travel Season 4: Women Influencing Change, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Rebecca Braak, founder of Rebecca Adventure Travel and EcuaFina. Rebecca Adventure Travel’s mission is to create authentic and adventurous experiences for every world-minded traveler. Rebecca leads a multicultural team to create experiences designed to be as socially, economically, and ecologically responsible as possible, paying close attention to the local community's well-being and working with community-based tour operators, restaurants, and hotels. In 2019, Rebecca opened a travel concept store, offering artisan handcrafted blankets, ponchos, and home decor exported directly from Ecuadorian indigenous weavers and makers. Christine and Rebecca discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Rebecca Braak. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! 🌎​​​​​​​​ To learn more about Rebecca Adventure Travel, visit the website! Learn more about EcuaFina, and visit upcoming trip itineraries to Ecuador and the Galapagos and this nine-day trip to the Amazon specifically designed for women. Connect with Rebecca on LinkedIn or find Rebecca Adventure Travel on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest! 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Rebecca Braak (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

Welcome to a special podswap episode of the Soul of Travel Podcast! Host Esme Benjamin of The Trip That Changed Me podcast interviewed our very own Christine Winebrenner Irick. Christine is the entrepreneur behind the group travel company, Lotus Sojourns, and the host of The Soul of Travel podcast, which features guests making a positive impact on the tourism industry. In this episode, Christine shares the story of her first big trip to Asia. Amid a period of rebirth, as her career and marriage were crumbling, Christine took inspiration from Alex Garland's book, The Beach, and set off for Thailand with one good friend and no solid plans. In Christine's own words, what unfolded was a perspective-shifting experience that would "reveal who she would become." Fast forward to 2023, and Christine was recently named one of the most influential women in travel, an accolade that speaks to her work highlighting how sustainable tourism can support gender equality. Available now on The Trip That Changed Me Podcast, and in our Soul of Travel feed on your favorite podcast app! In the episode, Esme and Christine discuss: Join Christine and Esme now for this soulful conversation. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Stay up-to-date on The Trip That Changed Me podcast by Full-Time Travel. 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Esme Benjamin (Host). Christine Winebrenner Irick (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing and production by Full-Time Travel. Content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Esme Benjamin, an award-winning writer, editor, and broadcaster based in New York City. Her editorial work can be found in ELLE, Condé Nast Traveler, Refinery29, SELF, Well&Good, Trip Advisor, Culture Trip, and more. Esme is the current Editor-in-Chief of Full-Time Travel and host of the podcast The Trip That Changed Me, which features transformative travel stories from guests including writer/illustrator Mari Andrew, Top Chef judge Gail Simmons, and more. In Season Four of the podcast The Trip That Changed Me, Esme interviews many exciting guests in the travel world, including Laurie Woolever (Anthony Bourdain’s former assistant), prolific travel writer Pico Iyer, and Emmy award-winning host Samantha Brown. In the episode, Christine and Esme discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Esme Benjamin. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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 Esme on her website! Explore the world like an insider with Full Time Travel. Stay up-to-date on The Trip That Changed Me podcast by Full-Time Travel. Get your copy of Wanderess by Unearth Women on Penguin Random House. Follow Esme on your favorite social media network! Connect with Esme on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Esme Benjamin (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Juliana Dever, a travel writer, photographer, actor, and TV host and the founder of Clever Dever Wherever. Juliana is a cultural tour curator who has traveled to more than sixty countries and has lived in four (USA, France, Russia, and Greece). Each year, she spends several months abroad, connecting with locals and gathering insider information to help other curious travelers take more meaningful trips. Combining her love of cultural connection with her natural storytelling abilities, Juliana works with women in Central Europe to develop small-group cultural immersion adventures in their home countries. These travel deep-dives work to support local female and family-owned businesses in Georgia, Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Poland. Juliana has been featured on Fox’s Good Day LA and Smithsonian.com, and was selected by Frommer’s as someone shaping modern travel trends. As an actor, she’s best known for her role as Jenny Ryan on the globally popular show Castle and as Rachel Hawkerson on 9-1-1. Christine and Juliana discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Juliana Dever. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Learn more about CleverDever Wherever, and download your Free CleverTraveler Checklist Bundle! Connect with Juliana on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or YouTube! 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Juliana Dever (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Poonam Rawat-Hahne, founder of Fernweh Fair Travel - Uplifting Communities, a women-led organization offering powerful, authentic travel experiences and unforgettable mountain adventure sports in the majestic Indian Himalayas. Poonam is a community-based tourism consultant specializing in adventure, responsible, and regenerative tourism designing, development, and execution. She has a proven track record in product development, strategy planning, eco-accommodation, and transformational travel designing while positively impacting host communities and the environment. Poonam has a strong passion for adventure, people, nature, spirituality, culture, and permaculture. She is on the board of directors committee in various prestigious organizations and is a volunteer firefighter in Germany. She is an ATTA ambassador and an accredited Transformational Travel designer. "We are looking to develop business collaborations with companies that share our values. We offer guided tours that integrate nature-based adventures and spiritual retreats with Indigenous cultural activities in the Indian Himalayas for small groups. Our unique programs are curated to educate, connect, and transform travelers - as well as our community. " ~ Poonam Rawat-Hahne Christine and Poonam discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Poonam Rawat-Hahne. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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 Fernweh Fair Travel - Uplifting Communities! Connect with Poonam on LinkedIn, or follow Fernweh Fair Travel - Uplifting Communities on Instagram or Facebook! 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Poonam Rawat-Hahne (Guest). Original music by Cla Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with freelance journalist and meteorologist Jennifer Broome. Jennifer is a freelance multimedia travel and environmental journalist for broadcast, digital, and print outlets, including AAA, The Weather Channel, Local Now, The List TV Show, Matador Network, NewsBreak, and multiple television stations in top 50 markets. With 29 years of experience as a television meteorologist and anchor, Jennifer is an on-camera travel and outdoors expert, host, and reporter. She’s also a content creator, blogger, and speaker. Based in Denver, Colorado, she has traveled to 44 countries and 4 continents, all 50 U.S. states and 170 U.S. National Park Service sites, including 37 national parks. She specializes in adventure travel, solo travel, national parks, road trips, sustainable tourism, weather and climate, and luxury travel, and is currently on a quest to visit all 424 National Park Service sites. Christine and Jennifer discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Jennifer Broome. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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 Jennifer Broome and Broome Endeavors on her website, Swept Away Today. Facebook: JenniferBroomeTV Instagram: @jenniferbroometravel TikTok: @jenniferbroometravel Twitter: @jenniferbroome YouTube: Swept Away With Jennifer Broome LinkedIn: JenniferBroome Pinterest: Swept Away With Jennifer Broome Find Lotus Sojourns on Facebook, or join the Lotus Sojourns Collective, our FB community for like-hearted women. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Jennifer Broome (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Katie Broadhurst, Online Business Manager and Travel Systems Specialist and co-founder of Peak Flow OBM, a business management agency specializing in supporting adventure travel and tourism businesses with software & processes. As a passionate, process-driven Certified Online Business Manager, Katie specializes in helping travel-based businesses get organized, automate, and get found. Combining her software knowledge, productivity expertise, and over 15 years working in the adventure travel & tourism industry with her OBM skills, Katie has developed the drive to help her clients take their businesses to the next level. Watching clients transition from confused and unorganized to calm, confident decision-makers brings Katie joy. When she’s not helping entrepreneurs online, you can find her outside enjoying nature - hiking, biking, paddle boarding, and skiing - with her partner Will and our pup Zaya. They usually spend ski seasons in the Kootenay region of British Columbia and summers exploring in their '84 Winnebago. Christine and Katie discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Katie Broadhurst. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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 Peak Flow OBM. Connect with Katie on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter, or join Peak Flow OBM’s Facebook Group. Check out Katie’s workshop for travel professionals, “Find Your Freedom with Automation.” 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Katie Broadhurst (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Elinor Fish, CEO of Run Wild Retreats, which offers women-only running retreats around the globe. Elinor’s career began at Banff Lake Louise Tourism, where she managed travel media relations for the crown jewel of Canada’s national park system. She learned the art of itinerary design while creating fam trips for the travel industry’s best writers, photographers, and film crews worldwide. Leaving the Canadian Rockies in 2004, Elinor moved abroad, first to Australia, then the USA, where she bounced between her passions: travel and running. For the next 10 years, she spent time working as the editor of a running magazine and doing tourism marketing for destinations ranging from the Province of Alberta to Catalina Island, California. She founded Run Wild Retreats Inc in 2010 as a way to marry her passion for running and travel, and over the past dozen years has grown the organization into one of the top travel companies for runners, winning an award from Runner’s World magazine in 2020 for “Best Women-Only Trips.” Today, Run Wild Retreats is an IATA-accredited tour operator offering tours in 10 countries; they employ seven women and are proud to be on the leading edge of the transformational travel movement. Christine and Elinor discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Elinor Fish. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To learn more about Run Wild Retreats, visit the website! Connect with Elinor on LinkedIn or follow Run Wild Retreats on Facebook, LinkedIn, or 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Elinor Fish (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Samantha Runkel, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Heyterra, a sustainable travel platform and digital publication for families. Heyterra shares sustainable travel tips as well as stories of trailblazing travel families, leading changemakers and purpose-driven organizations to help families use travel as a tool to educate, inspire, and improve the world. A former recording artist and musician, Samantha has translated her career of touring and making records into the sustainable tourism sector through a decade of documentary travel with her husband (a travel photographer and photojournalist) and their two small children. Samantha is also a sustainability advocate across different spaces, from working with plastic initiatives in Europe to producing music with communities living on the front lines of climate change. Christine and Samantha discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Samantha Runkel. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To learn more about Heyterra, visit the website! Connect with Samantha on LinkedIn, or follow Heyterra on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter! 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Samantha Runkel (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Casey Hanisko, a passionate advocate for women’s leadership in adventure travel and tourism. Casey is a leadership and business coach and adventure travel marketing and sustainability consultant. As former president of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) and an executive in the private travel industry, Casey has a history of seeking ways to uplift and spotlight women+ leaders in travel. Her endeavors include leading ATTA’s women's leadership initiative, organizing women’s leadership forums, and mentoring women+ personally and through Camber’s Ann Krick Mentorship program. Casey is a member of the International Women’s Forum and Washington Women’s Foundation and has written and spoken about women+ leadership throughout her career. Casey helps women+ in the adventure and outdoor industries be great leaders and build great businesses. As an advocate for women’s advancement in the industry, she collaborates with women+ to support their leadership growth with creativity, empathy, and accountability. Tapping into passion and purpose, she focuses on helping women+ bring their whole selves to work and embrace their natural leadership style, giving it value and a voice. Christine and Casey discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Casey Hanisko. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To learn more about Casey Hanisko’s leadership coaching and sustainability consulting, visit the website! Connect with Casey on LinkedIn or Facebook! 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Casey Hanisko (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Lebawit Lily Girma, an Ethiopian-American freelance travel journalist specializing in sustainable tourism and storytelling from both consumer and business perspectives. Lily contributes to various travel publications, primarily Bloomberg Pursuits, and her writing and photography have been published over the years in BBC, CNN, Skift, National Geographic Traveller UK, Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler, and Sierra, among others. Lily ditched her Washington, DC law office in 2008 to follow her passion for storytelling and social impact through sustainable tourism. She hasn’t looked back since and splits her time between Maryland and the Dominican Republic, where she has family on both ends. Lily recently launched Tourism Lens, a hub for travelers and travel industry members to gather around ideas to center nature and host communities as key beneficiaries of travel. Christine and Lily discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Lebawit Lily Girma. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To learn more about Tourism Lens, visit the website! Read Lebawit Lebawit Lily Girma’s Bloomberg articles here. Find Moon Travel Guides here. Connect with Lebawit Lebawit Lily Girma on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram, or follow Tourism Lens 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Lebawit Lily Girma (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Lynan Saperstein, Owner, CEO, and Chief Marketing Strategist of The Experience Experts. Lynan is a luxury marketing strategist who has been intuitively guiding the launchpads for retreat centers & boutique hotels to consistently get more bookings and revenue for over 12 years. Lynan and her team offer a comprehensive, full-service approach for all your digital marketing needs, including a high-converting & driving-traffic online presence, big-picture business growth strategies around the dynamic retreat & wellness market, and increased profitable lead generation. The end result is your property and brand transformed from being virtually unknown to a highly-coveted and booked-solid destination or experience. She is currently based in Colorado with her partner & new baby girl, sharing her online marketing wisdom and hosting entrepreneur immersions, Trailblazer’s Retreats. Christine and Lynan discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Lynan Saperstein. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To learn more about The Experience Experts, visit the website! Connect with Lynan on LinkedIn or Facebook, or follow The Experience Experts 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Lynan Saperstein (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with award-winning sustainable travel consultant and educator Rose O'Connor. Rose is the founder and CEO of Sustainable Wanderlust, which helps travel businesses assess, develop, market, and promote sustainable practices to travel professionals and recreational travelers. Rose has consulted with several top travel brands on various sustainability projects, including serving on the Virtuoso Sustainability Council, where she collaborates with other travel leaders on initiatives to move the industry toward a more responsible and sustainable future. Rose is a trusted source on the subject of sustainable travel for several media outlets, including Condé Nast Traveler, The New York Times, Virtuoso Life, and Barron’s. The Environmental Defense Fund selected her as a 2021 Climate Corps Fellow, received the 2021 Virtuoso Luminaries, Legends, and Leaders Environmental Award, and was recently named one of 2023’s Most Influential Women in Travel by Travel Pulse. Christine and Rose discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Rose O'Connor. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Discover more about Sustainable Wanderlust. Learn more about Sustainable Wanderlust’s ten-week course on sustainability here. Connect with Rose on LinkedIn or follow Sustainable Wanderlust on Instagram 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Rose O’Connor (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with award-winning travel and tourism executive Carla Campos, who served as the Government of Puerto Rico’s Tourism Minister. Through her own consulting practice, Carla supports governments and organizations as a destination manager, strategist, and sustainability specialist. Carla’s practical experience in tourism development throughout Latin America and the Caribbean has positioned her as a fiercely determined and purpose-driven industry leader capable of transforming challenging circumstances as catalysts for tourism growth. Carla is recognized as a key driving force behind the recent transformation of Puerto Rico into an avant-garde destination that has overcome historical challenges, including Zika virus, Hurricanes Irma and Maria, earthquakes, political unrest, and most recently, the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the implementation of destination management plans, sound public policy, and building strategic public-private alliances, the island has been able to bounce back and report record-breaking travel and tourism performance repeatedly. Carla is a strong supporter of women’s leadership in travel and tourism and believes that sustainability must serve as a pillar for operational excellence in travel and tourism. Christine and Carla discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Carla Campos. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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 Carla 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Jo Hendrickx (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

Welcome to the final installment of this special interview series on the Soul of Travel Podcast. We are excited to partner with Women in Travel (CIC) to bring you exclusive conversations with their community members to set the stage for the upcoming International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum to be held on June 22nd at Google headquarters in London. This partnership is important because of the aligned missions of Soul of Travel and Women in Travel, founded by past podcast guest and award-winning founder Alessandra Alonso. Women in Travel (CIC) is a UK-based social enterprise dedicated to empowering all women using travel, tourism, and hospitality as a force for good. They offer employability, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and male allyship programs and communities. In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Christina Lawford, Founder and CEO of Diamond Air International and Co-Founder and CEO of Evolve Car. In 2022, Christina became part of the book Unstoppable Women, telling the story of Female Entrepreneurs and their respective journeys through business and life. She also serves on the Executive Board for Women in Travel CIC. Christine and Christina discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Christina Lawford. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To learn more about Diamond Air International, visit the website! Connect with Christina on LinkedIn, or follow Diamond Air International on Twitter or Facebook! 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Christina Lawford (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Shay Sane, Founder and Executive Director of Black Girls On The Go, Inc. ®, an innovative wellness brand for ambitious, conscious, dynamic, trailblazing, Strong Black Women (SBW) to Live in Wellness, Exuberance & Happiness™. Their mission is to help women prioritize their mental health through advocacy work, conferences, facilitating seminars, delivering training and workshops, and facilitating Therapeutic Travel Experiences aka (TTraVsperiences®). After being diagnosed with high-functioning major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, and epilepsy, Shay became a Mental Health Advocate. She is currently in training to become a Facilitator with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and is also a Brand Ambassador for Invisible Disabilities. Her work of creating an outlet for black women to heal has been featured in Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, Travel Noire, Madame Noire, and Work Your Business Magazine, and she was selected to participate in Facebook’s Leadership Summit. To date, Shay has amassed a tribe of over 30,000 women who desire to heal and build sisterly bonds through travel. In the episode, Christine and Shay discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Shay Sane. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To learn more about Black Girls On The Go, visit the website! Connect with Shay on LinkedIn, or follow Black Girls On The Go on Facebook or 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Shay Shane (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

Welcome to the third installment of this special interview series on the Soul of Travel Podcast. We are excited to partner with Women in Travel (CIC) to bring you exclusive conversations with their community members to set the stage for the upcoming International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum, being held on June 22nd at Google headquarters in London. This partnership is important because of the aligned missions of Soul of Travel and Women in Travel, which is founded by past podcast guest and award-winning founder Alessandra Alonso. Women in Travel (CIC) is a UK-based social enterprise dedicated to empowering all women using travel, tourism, and hospitality as a force for good. They offer employability, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and male allyship programs and communities. In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Eljesa Saciri, General Manager at the Zetter Townhouse Marylebone. Eljesa is a pioneer in the hospitality industry who passionately advocates for women in business, equal pay, and gender equity. She has been recognized by a number of media outlets, including Top50Boutique Hotels, Inspiring Women in Hospitality, and The Independent Hotel Show. Christine and Eljesa discuss: If you are inspired by this conversation and want to connect with other women influencing change, be sure to join us for the International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum. Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Eljesa Saciri. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ Take a look at Women in Travel (CIC)! https://www.womenintravelcic.com/ Register for the International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum and Awards here! To learn more about The Zetter Hotels & Co, visit the website. Connect with Eljesa on LinkedIn, or follow The Zetter Hotels & Co 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christin Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Eyitemi Popo, Founder of Girls Trip Tours, an alternative tourism economy driven by women that will change how people travel in Africa. Eyitemi’s companies have been featured in National Geographic, Forbes, Talks and Google, Business Day, and in a United Nations case study on travel and tourism. She is a dedicated global traveler and cultural curator as well as a Forbes-listed social entrepreneur invested in the products, services, and ecosystems that help women thrive. Christine and Eyitemi discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Eyitemi Popo. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To learn more about Girls Trip Tours, visit the website! Learn about The Girls MAP Foundation here. Connect with Eyitemi on LinkedIn, or follow Girls Trip Tours on Instagram or Twitter! 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Jo Hendrickx (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show

Welcome to the second installment of this special interview series on the Soul of Travel Podcast. We are excited to partner with Women in Travel (CIC) to bring you exclusive conversations with their community members to set the stage for the upcoming International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum on June 22nd in London. This partnership is important because of the aligned missions of Soul of Travel and Women in Travel, founded by past podcast guest and award-winning founder Alessandra Alonso. Women in Travel (CIC) is a UK-based social enterprise dedicated to empowering all women using travel, tourism, and hospitality as a force for good. They offer employability, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and male allyship programs and communities. In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Sofya Muhrer-Muromets, Sustainability Lead at Tour Radar, an online adventure booking platform offering over 50,000 organized adventures by trusted global operators. Sofya holds a BA in political science specializing in climate politics and an MBA in sustainable management. She has set a personal goal to show, guide and support the journey of change toward a better future. Sofya strongly believes that everything is connected and the current climate challenges can be overcome collaboratively. Christine and Sofya discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Sofya Muhrer-Muromets. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. Are you a Soul of Travel subscriber? Click here to subscribe to Apple Podcasts, so you don’t miss the latest episodes! Be sure to rate and review. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To learn more about Tour Radar, visit the website! Connect with Sofya on LinkedIn, or follow Tour Radar on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, or Facebook! 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credit wmnsWORK The tourism industry’s first business accelerator for women & non-binary early-stage entrepreneurs. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show

In this episode, Christine hosts a soulful conversation with Jo Hendrickx, Founder and CEO of Travel Without Plastic and Horeca Sustainability Solutions. Jo has worked in plastic reduction in the hospitality industry since 2007 after spending her career in tourism, from tour operations to health and safety auditing. Travel Without Plastic creates personalized toolkits and support packages for the hospitality industry with the goal of reducing and even ending the use of single-use plastics without compromising on the travel guest’s experience. Christine and Jo discuss: Join Christine now for this soulful conversation with Jo Hendrickx. 🌎​​​​​​​​ 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 PayPal. 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. 🌎​​​​​​​​ To learn more about Travel Without Plastic, visit the website! Learn about Plastic Free Laos and reducing single-use plastic in Mallorca and Ibiza. Connect with Jo on LinkedIn, or follow Travel Without Plastic on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook! 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. Follow us on Instagram: @lotussojourns and @souloftravelpodcast. Credits. Christine Winebrenner Irick (Host, creator, editor). Jo Hendrickx (Guest). Original music by Clark Adams. Editing, production, and content writing by Carly Oduardo. Support the show