Bhutan with Eric Weiner: karma, wisdom quests and the truth about happiness

Ireland with Rachel Friedman: friendship, travel writing, and conquering the quarter-life crisis: Author Rachel Friedman shares the story of an impromptu trip to Ireland during her college years: an identity quest which changed her self-perception, brought an influential relationship into her life, and ultimately inspired her travel memoir, The Good Girl’s Guide to Getting Lost. by The Trip That Changed Me

46 min listen

Morocco with Mallory Solomon: work-life balance, disrupting the Moroccan rug industry, and travel as a remedy for anxiety: On today's episode, Mallory shares experiences from that trip that inspired her to create Salam Hello – a textile company which champions the women artisans behind Morocco's famous rugs and pays them fairly for their work (something that’s outrageously rare in the current middle-man operated system). by The Trip That Changed Me

48 min listen

Argentina with Nicole Vargas: intuition, digital detoxes, and the art of solo travel: On today’s episode, she recounts the journey that inspired her to quit her job, call off her wedding, and wholeheartedly pursue a career in travel writing. by The Trip That Changed Me

41 min listen

Paris with Atticus: fame, vulnerability, and the joy of skinny dipping: On today’s episode, Atticus reveals more of himself and his artistic origins, including the Hollywood “bad guy” who encouraged him to write, and the fleeting moment in Paris that inspired his very first poem (spoiler alert: it involves a beautiful woman). by The Trip That Changed Me

29 min listen

Introducing The Trip That Changed Me: Starting on December 12, we dive into conversations with entrepreneurs, activists, entertainers, authors, and everyday adventurers about the formative trip that changed the course of their lives. Tune in every second Thursday for a new travel story that will inspire you to take on the world. by The Trip That Changed Me

2 min listen

The Entire World with Jessica Nabongo: fearlessness, responsible influencing, and treating the world as your neighborhood: On today’s episode, Jessica Nabongo shares stories from her experience as the first black woman to visit all 195 countries and document her journey along the way. by The Trip That Changed Me

42 min listen

Japan with Jacqueline Gifford: memory, childhood nostalgia, and the myth of having it all: On today’s episode, Jacqueline shares a nostalgic trip to Japan, the country where she was born, at a particularly pivotal moment: her own pregnancy. by The Trip That Changed Me

37 min listen

Southeast Asia with Ruben Arribas and Rachel Pregunta: Couchsurfing, finding love abroad, and turning travel into a career: In this episode, Esme speaks to Ruben and Rachel about traveling on a budget, building a successful blog, finding time to just be a couple when you also run a business together, making long-distance relationships work, and taking an open-hearted approach to strangers. by The Trip That Changed Me

52 min listen

South Africa with Gail Simmons: taste buds, safaris, and raising little travelers by The Trip That Changed Me

51 min listen

Honduras with Ben Higgins: faith, entrepreneurship, and finding your purpose: In today’s episode, Ben shares the first travel experience that showed him a world outside of his small town: a church mission trip to Honduras. by The Trip That Changed Me

34 min listen

Paris with Nicole Smith: Instagram, risk-taking, and the ultimate souvenir: On today’s episode, Nicole Smith shares how a reunion with her best friend in Paris gave her the idea for Flytographer, a company that connects travelers with local photographers around the world, capturing special moments and experiences in a way a selfie never could. by The Trip That Changed Me

30 min listen

Burgundy with Andy Levine: wine, spontaneity, and the magic of traveling by bike: The day after his graduation ceremony, feeling unsure of his calling, Levine packed up his beloved bike and headed to Beaune, France. It would end up being the trip that defined his working life, inspiring the launch of his luxury adventure and cycling company, DuVine. by The Trip That Changed Me

60 min listen

Kenya with Danielle Maltby: social media, leaving your comfort zone, and conscious volunteerism: On today's episode, Danielle describes the powerful two-week trip to Kenya that altered her perspective and encouraged her to live fully. by The Trip That Changed Me

46 min listen

Across the US with Meghan O’Dea: family travel, madcap whimsy, and seeing America by train: On today's episode, Megan shares memories from her ten-day trip with Florence, during which they stopped in New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, and ultimately Buffalo for a family reunion – enjoying moments of "madcap whimsy" along the way. by The Trip That Changed Me

40 min listen

Paris with Jackie Kai Ellis: fighting depression, patisserie school, and why it’s never too late to start over: On today’s episode, Jackie shares the circumstances that led her to enroll in a Parisian patisserie school – an experience that restored joy for life and, most importantly, her sense of self. by The Trip That Changed Me

41 min listen

Bucket List Trips with Lauren & Chris Pronger: wellness retreats, living your dreams, and the healing power of travel: Legendary NHL defenseman, Chris Pronger, and his entrepreneur wife, Lauren, are the duo behind Well Inspired Travels – a boutique travel company that curates five-star trips with a health and wellness mindset. Before launching the company, both had brushes with injury and illness that served to highlight the ways travel and quality time with the people you love can aid healing. by The Trip That Changed Me

51 min listen

Eastern Europe with Lillian Rafson: serendipity, surprise vacations, and making friends abroad: On today's episode, Lillian describes a summer of solo travel through Eastern Europe, during which she encountered the concept of surprise travel agencies for the first time. by The Trip That Changed Me

50 min listen

Cambodia with Marta Tucci: solo travel, healing from trauma, and building a creative career: Trigger warning: this episode includes descriptions of a violent attack. When Marta Tucci was living in London, pursuing a career in photography, a stranger forced his way into her home and attacked her. Left with PTSD and extreme anxiety, Marta was a shell of her former self. But, with the encouragement of those who know her best, she decided to face her fears head-on with a solo trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In the shadow of a city still rebuilding itself from past trauma, Marta worked on her own healing. A year later she would depart stronger, wiser, and with an established career as a documentary photographer. by The Trip That Changed Me

59 min listen

Backpacking Through Europe with Jason Moore: catching the travel bug, building community, and location-independent lifestyles: On this episode, Jason and Esme discuss the highs and lows of his first big solo trip backpacking through Europe on the Interrail. Ultimately, Jason says the experience made him determined to make travel part of his life in a more permanent way. If you've dreamed of becoming a digital nomad, this episode is a must-listen. by The Trip That Changed Me

70 min listen

Bali with Amy Chan: the psychic, the love curse, and the heart healer: After a New York psychic told Amy Chan – the heartbreak expert behind Renew Breakup Bootcamp – that a love curse was the cause of her romantic troubles, she promptly headed to Bali in search of spiritual guidance. After meeting with more than 20 balians (traditional Balinese healers), one particularly profound session appeared to lift the curse. Just four months later, Amy began dating her current partner. by The Trip That Changed Me

35 min listen

Belize with Jessica Blotter: sustainable tourism, becoming a conscious tourist, and making a positive travel impact: On this episode, Jessica and Esme discuss the moment some stray dogs gave Jessica the idea for Kind Traveler, how the heart-opening effects of travel encourage a more giving mindset, and why leading with a curious spirit is the best way to find your purpose. by The Trip That Changed Me

51 min listen

Walking the Length of Africa with Mario Rigby: near-death experiences, walkabouts as a rite of passage, and becoming a modern explorer by The Trip That Changed Me

71 min listen

From Mexico to Peru with Adrien Behn: storytelling, awakening new passions, and the kindness of strangers: On this episode, Esme and Adrienne discuss using travel as an escape hatch when life is not going the way you want it to, the joy of traveling solo, and why she loves Utah more than any other state. by The Trip That Changed Me

54 min listen

Mexico with Amanda Keidan: Day of the Dead, travel as creative inspiration, and falling in love with a place at first sight: Twenty years into a career as a jewelry designer and on the cusp of her 40th birthday, Amanda Keidan was feeling restless and ready for a new challenge when some friends invited her on a trip to the Mexican city of San Miguel de Allende to celebrate Day of the Dead. Five days later, she was smitten with the place and browsing real estate with the idea to open a boutique hotel. In 2019, Casa Delphine welcomed its first guests and a year later, despite the pandemic, the property has been celebrated as one of the hottest new hotels by Conde Nast Traveler. by The Trip That Changed Me

40 min listen

Bhutan with Eric Weiner: karma, wisdom quests and the truth about happiness: Eric Weiner, a travel correspondent for NPR, was experiencing a self-described midlife crisis when he came up with the idea for his first book: The Geography of Bliss. The project took him to the world’s most contented countries, including Bhutan, a place famous for its Gross National Happiness index. It was there he met Karma, a buddhist monk and academic who changed how Eric saw the world and how he defined happiness. by The Trip That Changed Me

55 min listen

Annecy and New York with Jodi Ettenberg: embracing spontaneity, becoming a full-time traveler, and cultivating resilience: Celebrated travel and food blogger Jodi Ettenberg shares not one but two life-changing trips on this week’s episode. The first, a solo jaunt to Annecy while she was studying for her master's in France, signaled the start of Jodi’s life as a devoted traveler. by The Trip That Changed Me

59 min listen

Cambodia with Scott Neeson: making it in Hollywood, following your instincts, and the secret to a life well lived: Shaken by a visit to a landfill where he saw hundreds of children scavenging to survive, Scott left his Hollywood career, moved to Phnom Penh, and founded the Cambodian Children’s Fund, an organization that now educates almost 2000 children and supports families with community-based projects. by The Trip That Changed Me

50 min listen

Europe with Brian Malarkey: the beauty of simple cooking, finding your echo, and fitting in amongst misfits by The Trip That Changed Me

60 min listen

Ethiopia with Marcus Samuelsson: cooking as a love language, cultural contrasts, and connecting to our roots: In this week’s episode, Marcus shares a truly unique and personal story surrounding a trip to Ethiopia to meet his birth father. by The Trip That Changed Me

42 min listen

Backpacking Through Europe with Brenna Holeman: confessional travel blogging, showing up authentically online, and finding love abroad: In this episode, Brenna shares the story of her first solo trip backpacking around Europe and the ways it ignited her career as a travel writer. by The Trip That Changed Me

62 min listen

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Bhutan with Eric Weiner: karma, wisdom quests and the truth about happiness

Bhutan with Eric Weiner: karma, wisdom quests and the truth about happiness

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